THE-:- HORSE 



with the nosepiece very low and taut around 

 the animal's nose. The horse should now be 

 one-reined. If, for example, he is to be 

 turned right, a firm pull should be taken on 

 the right rein and the left rein rubbed 

 against the near side of his neck. After a 

 period that naturally varies with the apti- 

 tude of the horse, the animal when turning 

 to the right will respond to the feel of the 

 left rein on his neck, and a much greater 

 pull on the right rein will not be necessary 

 in order to make him turn in this direction. 



To rein to the left, the same principles are 

 applied inversely. 



A horse is generally used in a hackamore 

 for about a year, and then he is double- 

 reined for another year. Double-reining 

 consists in putting a Spanish bit bridle over 

 the hackamore and allowing the animal to 

 carry the spade bit in his mouth for this 

 length of time. During this period, how- 

 ever, he is controlled almost entirely by the 

 hackamore, and merely allowed to carry the 

 bit in his mouth in order to become used 

 to it and play with the wheel at the fore 

 part of the spade, which has the tendency to 

 keep his mouth wet.* 



The horse by this time should be com- 

 pletely bridlewise to the hackamore and by 



Note. See page S3 on the subject "Polo." 



36 



