LOWERING THE HAND. 167 



the horse, the just oppositions of hands and 

 legs, lead him to keep himself in the best 

 possible position. To find out exactly 

 whether we are obtaining this result, we 

 must have recourse to frequent lowering of 

 the hand. It is done in this way. After 

 having slipped the right hand to the buckle, 

 and having assured yourself that the reins 

 are even, you will let go of them with the 

 left hand, and lower the right slowly to the 

 pommel of the saddle. To do this regu- 

 larly, the horse must neither increase nor 

 diminish the speed of his pace, and his head 

 and neck must continue to preserve their 

 proper position. The first few times that the 

 horse is thus given up to himself, he will 

 perhaps only take a few steps while keeping 

 in position, and at the same rate of speed ; 

 the rider ought then to make his legs felt 

 first, and the hand afterwards, to bring him 



