THE REIN BA CK. 1 1 9 



The Rein Back. — The movement to the rear called the 

 rein back may be executed at the walk, trot or canter. The 

 first and second are natural paces, the third is artificial. The 

 rein back at the walk is performed in a reversed, though 

 exactly similar, manner to the walk to the front {see p. 102), 

 except that it is always a "short stepping walk." The trot, 

 which is simply the trot to the front reversed, is also a short 

 trot. 



I wish to draw my readers' particular attention to the two 

 different methods of backward propulsion adopted by the 

 horse, when he makes this movement to the rear. ( i ) When 

 he is at liberty, or when he reins back "collectedly" with a 

 capable rider in the saddle, he lowers his head so as to put 

 weight on the forehand, and pushes himself back by the 

 alternate straightening out of his fore legs ; while the hind 

 legs, being comparatively free of weight, are raised higher 

 and with greater freedom than the front ones. It is evident 

 that this hio^h and liofht action of the hind limbs is as conducive 

 to the safety of the rein back, as would be the same style of 

 movement of the fore legs in paces of forward progression. 

 (2) When the horse in harness tries to push a heavy weight 

 to the rear, or when he " plants " his hind legs on the ground 

 owing to unwillingness to rein back or to unskilful handling 

 by his rider or driver, he will make his effort or his 

 "defence," as the case may be, by throwing the weight on 

 his hind quarters. In the event of the centre of gravity of 

 the horse (and of the rider) falling to the rear of the base of 

 support [see p. 57) formed by his four feet, he will, if in 

 saddle, have to make a hurried and consequently a low step 

 to the rear with one hind foot, which may be followed by the 

 other feet in a more or less disorganised and insecure manner. 



