lo8 Modem Riding and Horse Education 



ing as the hand, and the well-trained horse's side 

 should be as sensitive to its application as is his 

 mouth to the bridle. He should answer to the touch 

 and firm pressure of the leg as he should to the 

 touch and firm pressure of the reins. Practice in 

 the first five exercises already enumerated for devel- 

 oping the gripping muscles teaches the pupil from 

 the commencement that the knee should be im- 

 movable in riding, and that the lower part of the 

 leg must be used, generally speaking, as an indica- 

 tion. I qualify this latter statement, as when a 

 horse jumps or bucks the rider holds on to a certain 

 extent with the flat of the lower part of the leg as 

 well as with the knee and thigh, according to the 

 length of the limb. The small, fat-thighed man 

 must perforce use this hold a good deal. When cir- 

 cumstances, adverse or otherwise, dictate that ad- 

 ditional hold in this way is necessary, the pressure 

 should be applied without shifting the lower part 

 of the leg to the rear. 



The indications of the leg are briefly as follows : 

 A pressure of both legs to make the horse move 

 forward, the amount of pressure being regulated 

 by the pace desired. One leg drawn back in con- 



