Aids and Defences. 91 



with the body, or the leg. Thus :— if a horse rear, 

 it is useless for the rider to afford him a slack rein, 

 if she do not also lean forward, in order, by throw- 

 ing her weight on his fore-parts, to bring him down, 

 and also to save herself from falling backward over 

 his haunches. Should the rider, Tvhen her horse 

 rises, slacken the reins, but retain her usual posi- 

 tion on the saddle, if he rear high, she must neces- 

 sarily be thrown off her balance ; and then, if she 

 hang on the bit, in order to save herself from fall- 

 ing, there is great danger of her pulling the horse 

 backward. 



The aids and defences of the body are numerous : 

 we shall attempt to describe a few of them ; the 

 residue must be acquired by practice, and the 

 lady's own observation. When the rider indicates 

 by her hand that she wishes the horse to advance, 

 the body should be inclined forward in a slight 

 degree ; and the left leg (with the whip, also, if 

 the animal be sluggish, or not well trained) pressed 

 to his side. Should she, by pulling the rein to- 

 wards her, or turning the wrist in the manner we 

 have before directed, communicate her desire to 

 stop, her body ought, at the same time, to be 

 thrown back, with gentleness, or otherwise, in pro- 

 portion to the severity of the action of the hand 

 against the horse's inclination to increase his speed 



