294 HIGH^SCHOOL RIDING. 



what we want him to do. As soon as he correctly marks the 

 first two times, without showing any wish to escape from the 

 spurs, we may try to get him to do four, six or more, and we 

 can continue to increase the number, as long as we hold him 

 easily in this position ; but we should not overdo it. 



We should, of course, stop the piaffer and send the horse 

 forward, well in hand, the moment we feel he can escape from 

 us, whether by bringing his haunches sideways, doing a 

 half-rear or reining back, which is still worse. 



In the first case, we should straighten the haunches by a 

 sharp touch of the spur, given on the side to which he throws 

 himself and by way of punishment. 



If he makes a half- rear, we are forced to slacken the reins 

 to avoid an accident ; but the spurs should be kept close to 

 the sides (Fig. 65) ; because if that were not done, he would 

 constantly rear. The action of the spurs ought to be increased 

 by small touches until the horse has become quiet in hand, in 

 which case he has " given in." 



Running back is the most difficult and dangerous fault to 

 overcome. If, on being lightly touched, he violently runs 

 back, the reins should be left quite loose, and the spurs should 

 be used more vigorously. Repeated touches of the spurs 

 close to the girths are a means which the horse cannot resist, 

 if they are energetically continued. Besides, I have already 

 said that we should never spur a horse which is stationary, 

 until we have taught him to go freely forward on being 

 touched by the spurs. Therefore, I do not incur the liability 

 of combatting the defence which I have described. If, how- 

 ever, I had to do so, I would easily settle the matter by 

 repeated attacks of the spurs, which act like the roll of a 

 drum. But if, on account of insufficient breaking, we have to 

 deal with this defence, and if we cannot continue the repeated 

 attacks of the spurs behind the girths, we should take a 

 cutting whip or cane, or get an assistant armed with a driving 



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