378 THE HORSE. * 



hand, one to direct the nock and shoulders towards the side to 

 which he desires to wheel, the other to second the opposite leg, 

 if it he not sufficient to keep the croup at rest. At first, this 

 leg should be placed as far back as possible, and not be used 

 until the haunches bear against it. By careful and progressive 

 management the results will soon be attained. At the start, the 

 horse should be allowed to rest after executing two or three 

 steps well, which will give five or six halts in the complete ro- 

 tation of the shoulders around the croup. 



Here the stationary exercises cease. I will now explain 

 how the suppling of the hind parts will be completed, by be- 

 ginning to combine the play of its springs with those of the fore 

 parts. 



The retrograde movement, otherwise called backing, is an 

 exercise, the importance of which has not been sufficiently 

 appreciated, and which yet ought to have great influence on 

 his education. When practised after the old erroneous methods, 

 it was of no use, as the exercises which ought to precede it were 

 unknown. Backing properly differs essentially from that incor- 

 rect backward movement, which carries the horse to the rear 

 with his croup contracted and his neck stiff"; that is, backing 

 away from and avoiding the effect of the reins. Backing cor- 

 rectly supples the horse, and adds grace and precision to his 

 natural motions. The first of the conditions upon which it must 

 be obtained, is the keeping the horse well in hand, that is to 

 Bay, supple, light in the mouth, steady on his legs, and perfectly 

 balanced in all his parts. Thus disposed, the animal will be 

 able with ease to move and elevate equally his fore and hind 

 legs. 



It is here that we shall be enabled to appreciate the good 

 effects and the indispensable necessity of suppling the neck and 

 haunches. Backing, which at first gives considerable pain to 

 the horse, will always induce him to combat the motions of the 

 hand, by stiffening his neck, and those of the legs, by contract- 

 ing his croup ; these are the instinctive resistances. If we can- 

 not obviate the untoward disposition of them, how can we 

 expect to obtain that shifting and reshifting of weight, which 

 alone can render the execution of this movement perfect ? If 

 the motive impulse which, in backing, ought to come from the 



