ON BRIDLING 325 



subject it may be useful to repeat that the mate- 

 rial effect of the various actions of the hands hj 

 means of the reins on the curb-bit is to cause a 

 certain degree of pain to the mouth (more or less) 

 in order that the horse, to make the pain cease, 

 may be willing to do one of these things : — dimi- 

 nish his motion or stop ; — yield with head, neck 

 and body; — assume a particular attitude of head, 

 neck, and body ; — bend head, neck or body ; — go 

 to one side and backward ; — do some other par- 

 ticular action; — put his body in a collected 

 position. 



The several actions of the hands have also the 

 effect of mechanically indicating to the horse the 

 various positions in which it is desired that he 

 should place himself and of inducing him mecha- 

 nically to assume these positions. 



As soon as the horse jaelds to the actions of 

 the hands and does that which by these actions 

 has been demanded of him, the actions of the 

 hands should cease in order that the horse may 

 understand that he causes the pain given to his 

 mouth by the bit to cease when he yields his head, 



