214 BENDING LESSON. 



" A young horse generally attempts to resist the 

 bit, either by bending his neck to one side, or the 

 other, setting his jaw against it, carrying his nose 

 high up, or low down, he must therefore, by bending 

 him to the right and left, be taught to arch his neck, 

 and to bring down his head on the reins being felt, 

 and thus be rendered manageable. As a general rule, 

 when the horse champs the bit, it is a sign that he no 

 longer resists the action of the hand. It is of the 

 utmost importance that the horse never be allowed 

 to take the initiative/' Always oppose the raising 

 of the horse's head, always lower your hands and 

 bring it down. The horse being brought into the 

 school, see that the bit is properly placed in the horse's 

 mouth ; and the curb chain so, that you can pass a 

 finger under it ; place yourself on the near side, in front 

 of the horse's shoulder, facing inwards, the feet a 

 little apart, to give you more power." 



" Take the off bit rein in the full of the right hand, 

 close up with the ring of the bit, between the fore 

 finger and thumb, the near rein in the same way 

 with the left hand. Thumb nails towards each other, 

 and little fingers outwards, bring the right hand 

 towards the body, extending the left one, from you at 

 the same time, so as to turn the bit in the horse's 

 mouth. The strength employed must be gradual, 

 and proportioned to the resistance met with, taking 

 care at first, not to bring the horse's nose too much 

 in, or too close to the chest, which would make the 

 bend very difficult ; if the horse reins back, continue 

 the pressure, until he finding it impossible to escape, 

 from the restraint imposed upon him by the bit held 

 thus crossways in his mouth, stands still, and yields 

 to it." 



