THE GALLOP, HAND-GALLOP, AND CANTER. 69 



close to the neck as possible — which will throw 

 your weight in the best place, and prepare you to leap 

 down, should it be necessary. If you have kept per- 

 fectly calm, so that the horse has not suspected that 

 you were frightened, he will doubtless come down on 

 his feet, and very likely may not rear again. If, how- 

 ever, you feel his hind-legs sink under him, he will be 

 intending to throw himself down, and you must jump 

 down instantly to avoid getting caught under the 

 saddle. 



Kicking, when coming unexpectedly, is more likely 

 than rearing to unseat the rider. If you withstand 

 the first assault, however, get the horse's head up by an 

 energetic use of the bit, and look out that he does not 

 get it down again. It is needless to say that should 

 either of the last two tricks become a habit, it will 

 make the horse quite unfit for a lady's use. 



If your horse is restless and disposed to jump, or 

 perhaps run, when horses or vehicles rapidly approach 

 him from behind, occupy his attention by moving the 

 bit a little from side to side in his mouth. 



Running away is undoubtedly serious business, but 

 all authorities agree that the safest plan is to let the 

 horse run, if there is room, and that the best lesson for 

 him is to make him continue running after he wishes 

 to stop. A steady pull on the bit is quite useless, and 

 so is any cry of "Whoa! whoa!" at first. But after a 

 little the bit should be vigorously sawed, so as to sway 



