70 ESSAYS ON HORSE SUBJECTS 



of action, they are not likely, even in the best 

 hands, ever to show very much. A horse with 

 his head well put on his neck, that has a respon- 

 sive mouth and some ambition, will, when urged, 

 get his head up and nose in, and if restrained at 

 the same time by moderate pressure of the bit, 

 will step much higher than if he has a free head 

 when going at the same rate of speed. Some 

 horses, when going fast, show a considerable 

 amount of action, that at a slow pace will exhibit 

 very little. If such horses have their mouths well 

 cultivated, so that when restrained their force 

 will be exerted to step up instead of stepping 

 on, their action, in front at least, will be much in- 

 creased. If, however, a horse's mouth is not cul- 

 tivated to a proper degree of responsiveness, and 

 he is urged into the bit, he will lug or bore and go 

 ahead instead of going up. 



To those who are anxious, then, to develop ac- 

 tion in their horses, the first step is to endeavor 

 to cultivate a responsive mouth. As has been 

 stated, this requires time and skill. Many horses' 

 mouths are frequently permanently injured by 

 insufficient time being taken for this process. It 

 is a very similar one to teaching a child to write. 

 The tyro at writing cannot regulate the move- 

 ments of his hand and arm so as to make smooth 

 and regular lines in an easy, flowing manner. The 

 nerves and muscles of his hand and arm have to 



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