OBJECTS OBTAINED BY DIRECT FLEXION. 6i 



reins * i.e., by the hand of the rider. In this manner the 

 horse learns to go forward without leaning on the bit, and 

 is then perfectly light, in the same way as we ought to 

 make him later on when he is mounted. The work which 

 I have just described not only prepares the mouth of the 

 horse in an admirable manner, but also makes the hand of 

 the rider skilful. There is no doubt that it is easier to make 

 the jaw supple when standing still than during movement ; 

 but there is the risk of making him keep behind the bit, 

 which inconvenience, or rather danger, is avoided when going 

 forward (Fig. 4). I insist on this point ; because, if the work 

 of loosening the jaw during movement is certainly longer and 

 more difficult, it guards us against the great danger of putting 

 the horse behind the bit, which is always the inevitable result 

 of the first flexions. Therefore, take your time and do well. 



Although, as a rule, I maintain that it is of the greatest 

 importance for the whole of this work to be done when going 

 forward, I am obliged to admit that it would be impossible or 

 at least extremely fatiguing to do it with certain horses which 

 throw themselves suddenly on the hand, or which have their 

 heads too low. Personally, I have never found these faults 

 carried to such an extent that I have been unable to obtain 

 direct flexion and relaxation of the jaw while going forward. 



If the work is stationary, we should take the utmost care to 



prevent, at all hazards, the horse from getting behind his bit. 



If he reins back ever so little, we should immediately send 



him forward by touching him on the side with the whip, while 



holding the end of the snaffle reins in the left hand (Fig. 4). 



If the horse stretches out his hind legs behind, or his fore legs 



* We will notice in Fig. 4 the manner in which the right hand of the 

 breaker holds at the same time the reins of the snafHe and those of the curb. 

 The former are held between the thumb and closed index finger, and keep 

 the neck high by their upward pull. The latter are held more or less 

 horizontally, and serve to loosen the jaw, the left curb rein being passed 

 between the middle finger and the ring-finger ; and the right, underneath 

 the little finger. 



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