AVERY 's OWN FARRIER. _ 261 



of the leg — the same as a horse moves his croup in the 

 stall from one side to the other, when touched with the 

 whip, or by the motion of the hand. 



Every horseman knows very well that his horse never 

 disobeys the motion of the leg, after being made ac- 

 quainted with its use and meaning. By this means you 

 have great power in controling or governing the move- 

 ments of your horse, for when you close one leg to him, 

 he will move sideways, and when you close both legs to 

 him, he moves forward. And even when he stands still, 

 your legs held close to him keep him ever on the qui 

 Vive ; when, with the least motion of the rein he will 

 prick up his ears and raise his head, so as to show to the 

 best advantage possible. All the airs (as riding masters 

 call them) once depended on the use of the legs, in the 

 guidance of the horse's croup, by which troopers were 

 taught to close or open their ranks. But as the horse is, 

 or ought to be educated in these days, for pleasure, sport- 

 ing or war, there are other things brought into requisi- 

 tion which enable his rider to pursue the chase within 

 his length of any marked spot, at the top of his speed, 

 and at a given signal stop so suddenly and balance him 

 on his haunches, as to prevent going over the precipice, 

 and being hurled into the abyss below. Though when 

 a horse starts, and is flying to one side, if you close the 

 leg on that side of him, it will stop his spring immedi- 

 ately, and he will go past the object he started at, keeping 

 straight on, or as you choose to guide him, and he will 

 not fly back at anything, if you press him with both legs. 



The rein is a necessary for the accompanient for the 

 leg, hand and whip, in riding; by which means you can 



