86 ORDINARY RIDING. 



hut so closely together that the intervals are imperceptible. 

 Anyhow, they ought to be executed in the order I have indi- 

 cated. If, for instance, the movement of the legs precedes ever 

 so little that of the snaffle, the effect will be to make the horse 

 go forward, which will be the opposite to what is wanted. 



This method of stopping the horse is the best and should 

 be the only one used. The halt should be made without con- 

 cussion. It is then painless for the rider, saves the horse's 

 loins and hocks, and is easy, because the hocks and pasterns 

 bend. To stop himself, the horse acts simultaneously with all 

 the parts of his body, makes no local effort, and preserves all 

 the elasticity of his loins, which bend and become slightly 

 concave. If we stop the horse only by the hand, and without 

 the help of the legs, the forehand will become arched in order 

 to resist the impulsion received, and will push back the hind 

 quarters by a counter stroke in removing it from the centre. 

 In this case the loins become stiff and convex. The shock 

 which results is painful for the rider, and often dangerous 

 on account of its violence, and is very bad for the horse, on 

 whom it inflicts pain in his mouth, shoulders, loins, and 

 fetlocks. 



A halt, no matter how sudden it may be, should be smooth ; 

 if it is not so, it is badly executed. 



The halt ought to be done by the same means at every 

 pace. It is, of course, understood that the faster the speed, 

 the more difficult is the halt, and the more should the rider 

 lean back. 



The horse ought not only stop himself as quickly as his 

 rider wishes, but should also remain standing still as long as 

 he is required, wherever he may be. It is somewhat difficult 

 to make an impatient, nervous, or excitable horse stand still 

 at this time. We should calm him down, so as to gradually 

 accustom him to his surroundings. We should begin in the 

 school when we are alone, and should pat him on the neck and 



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