2o6 Restive7iess : its Preve7tilon and Cure, 



pasterns of its hind legs into play.* The first lounging 

 is always done on a large circle : first, because, if the 

 horse does canter or gallop wildly, there is less danger ; 

 and secondly, because the trot will be longer and more 

 energetic, and the leaning on the mouthpiece more 

 complete. The object of this procedure is to encourage 

 the horse to throw its weight well forward, go ahead 

 resolutely and use its hind legs altogether as propellers. 

 It may be well to give a caution here : grass land or 

 clay, when trodden hard, if moist, is to be avoided — 

 the danger of slipping is too great; sand or tanner's 

 bark, if available — if not, a piece of dry, fresh-harrowed 

 field — is preferable. 



There are certain forms of restiveness, or rather kinds 

 of tricks, that insubordinate horses try on and succeed 

 with, because they have never been brought to have a 

 proper leaning on the mouthpiece, of whatever kind 

 that may be. For instance, they will get " inside" the 

 action of the bridle altogether, so that the rider cannot 

 keep them straight, and they will then turn sharp round 

 and bolt o?l in another direction. When, therefore, one 

 finds a horse succeed in keeping permanently " behind 

 the hand," as it is called, the safest and surest way of 

 bringing it up well to the mouthpiece again is by a few 

 lessons on tiie lounge after this fashion, aided by judicious 

 demonstrations with the whip, and remembering to use 

 large circles. 



It will be unnecessary to go into the detail of the first 

 backing of the young horse, and of the precautions that 

 should be taken to avoid exciting its fear or anger ; and 

 we therefore go on to the method of handling under 

 the rider. The great object all English horse-breakers 

 have in view is, to bring their horses to go straight 

 ahead and cover as much ground as possible ; they 



*We shall see further on that the school system demands this 

 from the hocks. 



