96 Soothings, Animations, Etc. 



The aids of the hand, the whip, the leg, and the 

 body, which we have before described, are anima- 

 tions ; so also, are pattings with the hand, the 

 tones of the voice, &c. Animations should be 

 used in all cases,~when the horse, contrary to the 

 rider's inclination, either decreases his speed, 

 droops his head, bears heavily and languidly on 

 the bit, or, begins to be lazy or slovenly in the 

 performance of his paces. A good rider foresees 

 the necessity of an animation before the horse 

 actually abates his speed, or loses the ensemble 

 of his action, and the grace and spirit of his de- 

 portment. It is much easier to keep up, than to 

 restore, a horse's animation : therefore, the whip, 

 the leg, the hand, or the tongue, should do its 

 office a few moments before, rather than at, the 

 moment when its movements are indispensable. 



A slight motion of the fingers of the bridle-hand 

 serves as an excellent animation : it reminds the 

 horse of his duty, awakens the sensibility of his 

 mouth, and preserves a proper correspondence be- 

 tween that and the hand. 



