HOW THE HORSE LEARNS 177 



In this way the horse has learnt that pointing 

 towards the leg, making a signal towards the leg 

 with the whip or with the arm and hand stretched 

 out, precedes striking the leg, and he does not wait 

 for it to be struck, raising it forthwith. If the voice 

 sound up, up is associated with striking him behind 

 the knee he learns to raise the leg at this sound. 

 The same method with suitable modifications is 

 used to teach him to raise the right leg at the 

 signal of the right arm extended in the direction 

 of the right leg. 



In order to teach him to kick with a hind 

 foot and strike at the door with a hind foot the 

 horse is held in an isolated position by two lounges, 

 with his hind feet in the proximity of the door 

 of the riding school and is excited with the tip 

 of the whip at the pasterns of the hind legs until 

 in anger he gives a kick that makes a noise aga- 

 inst the door which he hears. The teacher imme- 

 diately goes up to his head, caresses him, speaking 

 to him conciliatingly, and he learns that kicking 

 or striking at the door is what he is desired 

 to do. 



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