Stopping and Backing. 143 



longer be thrown back as in the stop, but rather 

 bend forward, which gives the hand greater effect, 

 without provoking the horse to rear — a circum- 

 stance that might occur with horses which do not 

 readily obey the hand, particularly if you leaned 

 back to give power to the hand. If you attempt 

 to compel the horse back by the power or weight 

 of the body, and he should rear, the body cannot 

 be brought forward, you hang on by the bridle, 

 and should you happen to have the preponderance, 

 you pull the horse backwards on yourself. The 

 horse must at the same time be gently felt with 

 both leg and whip, in order to keep him up to the 

 bridle, and to prevent him from swerving. 



The operation of the hand in reining back 

 is a kind of invitation. Should the horse 

 not readily obey, play with the mouth by moving 

 the fingers : this will induce the horse to raise his 

 head. 



The instant the horse is constrained to back, the 

 body, if in a proper position, will incline forward, 

 and the fingers must be eased. A horse that is 

 properly broke, obeys the lightest pressure of the 

 fingers, and backs without throwing him off his 

 balance ; but the horse that is constrained to back 

 is overbalanced, and, if the body did not come for- 



