86 Horses and Horsemastership, 



The leaning back neutralises the impetus of the horse's 

 action as he takes off, which otherwise has a tendency 

 to shoot the rider over his head. Pressing the legs to 

 his sides counteracts any inclination he may have to 

 refuse to jump. 



GENERALLY. 



It should always be borne in mind that pushing a 

 horse to his full pace is only justifiable in circumstances 

 of real emergency. No horseman, worthy of the name, 

 would ever think of bringing his horse in from work in 

 an obviously exhausted and over-heated condition. The 

 average horse can be educated to habitually move at the 

 comfortable rate of four miles at the walk, eight at the 

 trot, and fifteen at the gallop. The practice of dis- 

 mounting when halted, and when proceeding up or 

 down long and steep inclines, should become general. 

 The last half mile, or so, from home should be covered 

 in the same way, especially if the horse is hot. On 

 such occasions slackening the girths, and raising the 

 saddle, adds much to the comfort of the animal. 



