USE OF THE SPURS. 157 



by the spur. If by the time being badly 

 chosen, the hand does not exactly intercept 

 the impulse given, and a general commotion 

 results therefrom, we should, before recom- 

 mencing, gather the horse together, and re- 

 establish calm in his motions. The force of 

 the spurring will be progressively increased 

 until the horse bears it, when as vigorously 

 applied as possible, without presenting the 

 least resistance to the hand, without in- 

 creasing the speed of his pace, or without 

 displacing himself so long as we operate 

 with a firm foot. 



A horse brought thus to bear spurring, is 

 three-fourths broken, since we have the free 

 disposition of all his forces. Besides, his 

 centre of gravity being where his forces are 

 all united, we have brought it to its proper 

 place, viz. : the middle of the body. All 

 the oscillations of the animal will then be 

 subordinate to us, and we will be able to 

 14 



