THE REASONED EQUITATION 



the rider tends to stiffen the joint. Both causes 

 interfere with free movement, and occasion kicking, 

 rearing, and buck- jumping. 



It is, therefore, essential, during the work on 

 foot, to complete the mobilization of the entire 

 body by exercise in backing to supple the coupling. 



Some authors advise, for this purpose, having 

 the trainer stand in front of the horse, facing it, 

 and with one rein in each hand, either of bit or 

 snaffle, pushing the animal backward by "sawing" 

 back and forth on the bridle. Fillis advocates 

 having the man, in addition, step on the horse's 

 feet, first on one, then on the other, as the sawing 

 goes on. 



But how, I ask, is the horse to understand that 

 it is to flex its spinal column, just because some- 

 body saws its mouth or walks on its feet? I myself 

 proceed in quite a different manner. I put my horse 

 straight, right side near a wall, "at left hand," as it 

 is called. I stand at the shoulder, whip in my right 

 hand, snaffle reins in my left. With the whip, I 

 touch the back close behind the saddle, repeating 

 several times, very gently, never at all violently or 

 severely. Meanwhile, I pull lightly on the snaffle 

 reins. Commonly, within two minutes, the horse 

 lifts one hind foot. If at this moment I pull 

 on the reins, I hinder with my left hand the move- 

 ment forward of this leg, which will at once be car- 

 ried backward. The diagonal front leg will at once 

 follow, and I have obtained the first step. Caress- 



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