THE REIN-BACK. iig 



shortening the steps. Too long steps show that the horse 

 has not begun to collect himself, without doing which his 

 steps cannot be in cadence. 



The school walk is an excellent form of gymnastics, in 

 which the combined " aids " of the rider bring all the powers 

 of the horse into play. It makes him supple, graceful, light 

 and well posed ; in other words, it puts him into perfect 

 equilibrium, and it prepares him finally for the artificial paces, 

 and especially for the rassembler, which of itself brings him 

 to the passage and fiaffer. 



I teach the horse to do all the changes of direction at this 

 school walk ; but only when he can do them easily at an 

 ordinary walk. 



THE iiEIN-BACK. 



People generally, when trying on foot to make a horse 

 rein back, commit the great fault of holding his head as high 

 as possible while pushing him back. The exact opposite of 

 this should be done ; because, by raising the head while 

 pushing the horse back, we overload the hind quarters, 

 which require to be light in order to perform this move- 

 ment. 



In fact, the hind quarters are the first to move, which 

 they cannot do freely if they are overloaded. Even if we 

 try to push back the horse only a httle, we will make him 

 get behind his bit and rear, which is a most serious vice. 



To make a horse rein back properly, we should, on the 

 contrary, put the preponderance of weight on his shoulders. 

 In order to do this, I slightly lower the head of the animal* 

 by light, downward pressures on the snaffle reins. 



I stand directly facing the horse, and seize with each hand, 



* Reining back is the only work during wliich I put extra weight on 

 the shoulders. 



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