372 BAUCHER S METHOD CH. XV 



has his legs stretched out behind him. This placing 

 of the hind legs is best accomplished by the use of 

 the spur. 



The horse beine mounted, his head and neck 

 having been brought as completely as possible into 

 position, the tightening of the rider's legs and press- 

 ure back of the girths should induce him to move 

 forward. Since, in so doing, his hind legs propel 

 him, this pressure is usually first answered by the 

 advance of one of his hind legs under his body, 

 followed by that of the other. His forward move- 

 ment being somewhat restrained by the bit, but 

 not enough to stop him, he will step forward in a 

 position slightly different from that which he would 

 have assumed if he had been merely led forward by 

 the head. Thus, the combined action of the legs 

 and the hand, opposed to each other, will gather 

 the horse, throwing more of his weight on his hind 

 lees and liehtenine his fore-hand. It has been 

 assumed that merely pressing with the legs will 

 produce the desired result, and with some horses it 

 will do so, at the first attempt ; but in many cases 

 more vigorous means are needed, and for that reason 

 the heel is armed with the spur, which, however, 

 must be used at first with oreat caution, for fear of 

 exciting the horse and producing a defence. 



Whatever may be the reason, a slight touch with 

 the spur will induce the horse to lift and to move 

 forward the hind lee on the side on which he is 

 touched, and this fact is the basis of the whole use 



