244 Rcstivencss : its Prevention and Cure, 



when being ridden about in a slovenly manner by 

 young riders or grooms ; a man that keeps a lively feel 

 of his horse with both his hand and heels, and pays 

 attention to the pla}' of its ears and to every variation 

 of its pace, will seldom, if ever, let it come to rearing, 

 because the moment he detects the least slackness he 

 will at once apply the proper remedy, which will be to 

 make the horse come up to the mouthpiece at once ; but 

 then his own legs must be well closed up to enable him 

 to do so. 



If you have ascertained that the trick of rearing was 

 first practiced somewhat after the manner described 

 above, you may very reasonably hope to cure your horse 

 without much difficulty. The animal must be led^ ready 

 saddled and bridled, into a riding-school, or some en- 

 closed space of convenient dimensions, in order to avoid 

 giving it an opportunity for attempting disobedience on 

 the way thither. The rider will then mount, and begin 

 by riding quietly roimd about at a walk, not as if he 

 were merely wanting to see whether the horse would 

 rear or not, but with the very distinct idea constantly 

 before his eyes of getting it in the first instance well up to 

 the mouthpiece, so as to have a firm leaning, recollect- 

 ing always that this will depend quite as much on his 

 own legs as on those of the horse ; after which he will 

 proceed to correct the carriage or " form " of the animal 

 in the way described in the introductory chapter to Part 

 III., halting occasionally, bending the neck and head ; 

 and, finally, when he finds that he has got a hold of his 

 horse between his own legs and the reins — that is to sa}', 

 feels that he is the regulator of the steed's movements at 

 a walk — he may urge it gradually into whatever trot it 

 pleases to go itself, and subsequently bring it into the 

 form he himself pleases ; in fact, he will re-train it till 

 it is in perfect obedience, when there will be no more 

 danger of its rearing — under a good rider at least. 



