THE DEFENSES OF THE HORSE 



L ACCULER 



L'acculer has no English equivalent. It means the 

 position taken by the horse's rear limbs when the 



animal, refusing to go for- 

 ward at the effects of the 

 rider's legs, throws too much 

 of the weight on its hind feet. 

 This position of the horse 

 is the basis of all its de- 

 fenses. For when the center 

 of gravity is too far back, 

 it then becomes possible 

 for the animal to rear up, 

 to kick, or to plant itself 

 immovably on its fore legs 

 and refuse to advance. It 

 is easy to understand that, 

 with the center of gravity too far back, the 

 hind legs are so overloaded with the weight that 

 they are no longer ready for the impulsion forward. 

 In order to prevent the horse from taking this posi- 

 tion, the rider's legs should always, and in all cir- 

 cumstances, in sending the horse forward, act in 

 advance of his hands. Moreover, this action of the 

 rider's legs should continue from the time when the 

 forward movement is first obtained, until the horse 

 is perfectly light in hand and all contractions have 

 disappeared. By obtaining this lightness, the rider 

 makes sure that his mount is not accule. But a 



352 



A RESTIVE HORSE IN THE 

 INCORRECT POSITION 

 CALLED "ACCULER" 



