THE REIN BACK. 



near fore. When the rider has obtained this diagonal step 

 (with the near fore and off hind) to the rear, he can get the 

 other diagonal step (with the off fore and near hind) by 

 slackening the near rein, taking a pull with the off rein, 

 drawing back the left foot, and touching the horse's left side 

 with it ; and so on. I need hardly say that, as each step is 

 obtained, the drawn-back leg should be brought forward, I 

 may also remark that a straight direction to the rear is 

 maintained by the pressure of the drawn-back leg, whichever 

 it may be at the time. We may see that the tendency of the 

 well-broken horse, when reined back in this way, will be to 

 adopt the diagonal movement (or trot) to the rear. Of all 

 unhorsemanlike proceedings, the practice of " chucking" the 

 animal in the mouth with the reins, to obtain the rein back, 

 is one of the worst ; for it will tend to make him, in his 

 endeavour to escape the painful pressure of the bit (curb or 

 snaffle), throw his weight to the rear, and run back according 

 to the dangerous second method. Although the well " col- 

 lected " rein back may be done at the walk or the trot ; the 

 rein back by the second method is never executed at the trot ; 

 for the weight is too unequally distributed to admit of the 

 simultaneous action of an off fore and a near hind, and of a 

 near fore and an off hind. I need hardly say that the rein 

 back in light harness may be similar to the rein back in 

 saddle. When the object of the rein back is to push a great 

 weight to the rear, as in heavy draught, the horse will have to 

 exert his powers in bringing his centre of gravity as far back 

 as possible. Consequently, he ought to have his head well 

 raised, and ought to get his hind feet under him as far as he 

 can without slipping. In this he will be greatly assisted by 

 having calkins on his hind shoes. Continental icuyej's have 



