BACKING. 119 



stiff; that is backing away from and avoid- 

 ing the effect of the reins. Backing correct- 

 ly supples the horse, and adds grace and 

 precision to his natural motions. The first 

 of the conditions upon which it is to be ob- 

 tained, is to keep the horse in hand, that 

 is to say, supple, light in the mouth, steady 

 on his legs, and perfectly balanced in all 

 his parts. Thus disposed, the animal will 

 be able with ease to move and elevate equal- 

 ly his fore and hind legs. 



It is here that we will be enabled to ap- 

 preciate the good effects and the indispensa- 

 ble necessity of suppling, the neck and 

 haunches. Backing, which at first is tolera- 

 bly painful to the horse, will always lead him 

 to combat the motions of our hand, by stiff- 

 ening his neck, and those of our legs, by 

 contracting his croup; these are the instinc- 

 tive resistances. If we cannot obviate the 

 bad disposition of them, how will we be able 



