158 THE HORSE 



highly educated, should next go through a course 

 of long rein driving to mouth and supple them. 

 This consists essentially in diiving them round 

 and round in a large circle by means of a pair of 

 long reins (two pau-s of driving reins will do) at- 

 tached to the bit. One rein passes over the back 

 or round the quarters of the horse, and the other 

 passes direct from mouth to hand, the superfluous 

 rein being gathered up in loops ready to let out as 

 requu'ed. The horse must be taught to circle in 

 either direction, to turn about in the figure 8, 

 and perform either at the v^^alk, trot, or canter. 

 As success depends almost as much upon the skill 

 of the operator as upon the tractability of the horse, 

 and as a paddock or large yard is necessary for the 

 evolutions, we will not dwell on the system, ex- 

 cellent though it is, but will refer the reader to 

 special works which treat of the matter in detail. 

 The whole system is far superior to lunging with 

 one rein only, which has not the same effect, and 

 which must not be confused with long rein driv- 

 ing. (See Fig. 28.) 



The breaker has now reached the stage when he 

 has to teach the horse to understand and obey 

 certain signals given with the rein. A good 

 mouth, as understood by drivers, may be ana- 



