374 BAUCHER S METHOD CH. XV 



hind foot to the ground somewhat back of the posi- 

 tion which it previously occupied. A touch with the 

 other spur will raise the other hind foot, which, re- 

 sponding to the pressure of the reins, will be also 

 replaced further back ; the front feet will follow, and 

 by alternate attacks of the spur the horse will be 

 made to walk backward, all the time in a balanced 

 position. 



This is one of the regular lessons, but it must be 

 used with discretion, because when a horse learns to 

 walk backward, he will sometimes do so as a means 

 of defence. All harness-horses should back freely 

 when called upon. 



Just as regular gymnastics improve the action of 

 the most perfectly formed man, this training improves 

 that of the most perfectly formed horse ; it is not 

 an argument against the svstem to sav that the 

 horse, having been made for his own purposes of 

 life, cannot be improved for man's uses. 



While, therefore, the driving-horse may not re- 

 quire much training beyond the flexions of the jaw 

 and neck, the further training of his hind-quarters 

 will give him lightness and grace of carriage, which 

 are very desirable. 



It is also true that if a horse is excited by the spur, 

 the whip, or the voice, and at the same time some- 

 what restrained by the bit, his energy of movement 

 will be partly put into the height of his action, instead 

 of its being all put into the forward movement, with 

 the result of increasing his brilliancy. 



