368 THE HORSE. 



tion by drawing on the left rein. It is most important that the 

 animal in all his movements should do nothing of his own 

 accord. 



The flexion of the neck to the left is executed after the same 

 principles, but by inverse means. The man can repeat with 

 the curb, wdiat he has previously done with the snaffle-reins ; 

 but the snaffle should always be employed first, its effect being 

 less powerful and more direct. 



When the horse submits without resistance to the preced- 

 ing exercises, it will prove that the suppling of the neck has 

 already made a great step. The rider can, henceforward, con- 

 tinue his work by operating with a less direct motive power, 

 and without the animal's being impressed by the sight of him. 

 He will place himself in the saddle, and commence by repeat- 

 ing, with the full length of the reins, the lateral flexions, in 

 w^hich he has already exercised his horse. 



Of lateral flexions of tlie neck, the man being on horse- 

 back,, in order to execute the flexion to the right, the rider will 

 take one snaffle-rein in each hand, the left scarcely feeling the 

 bit ; the right, on the contrary, giving a moderate impression at 

 first, but which will increase in proportion to the resistance of 

 the horse, and in a way always to govern him. The animal, 

 soon tired of «a struggle which, being prolonged, only makes the 

 pain proceeding from the bit more acute, will understand that 

 the only way to avoid it is to incline the head in the direction 

 from which the pressure is felt. 



As soon as the horse's head is brought round to the right, 

 the left rein will form an opposition, to prevent the nose from 

 passing beyond the perpendicular. Great care should be taken 

 that the head remain always in this position, without wdiich the 

 flexion would be imperfect and the suppleness incomplete. The 

 movement being regularly accompli§hed, the horse will be 

 made to resume his natural position by a slight tension of the 

 left rein. 



The flexion to the left is executed in the same way, the rider 

 employing alternately the snaffle and the curb-reins. 



I have already mentioned that it is of great importance to 

 supple the upper part of the neck. After mounting, and having 

 obtained the lateral flexions without resistance, the rider will 



