USE OF THE SPURS. 165 



can undertake the use of the spurs with 

 oppositions, but we must be careful to dis- 

 continue them when the horse is in hand. 

 This means has the double advantage of 

 acting morally and physically. The first 

 attacks will be made with a single spur, and 

 by bearing on the opposite rein ; these 

 transverse oppositions will have a better 

 effect, and give more prompt results. When 

 the horse begins to contain himself, the two 

 spurs being used separately, we can make 

 them felt together and with an equal grada- 

 tion.* 



* I would never have thought that this means, which 

 serves as a corrective to the processes used by all horse- 

 men, would have aroused the sensibility of some ama- 

 teurs. These latter have preferred to be affected by ex- 

 aggerated or erroneous reports, rather than satisfy them- 

 selves by observation that this pretended cruelty is in 

 fact the most innocent thing in the world, Must we not 

 teach the horse to respond to the spur as well as to the 



