MODERN RIDING. 71 



once, he must jerk his hand, and give a vio- 

 lent shock to the horse's mouth : — rough and 

 irregular motions which would be sufficient to 

 falsify the firmest appui, and to ruin a good 

 mouth. 



The hand, moreover, must be sensible and 

 discriminating whether the horse wishes to 

 disengage himself from its restrictions, or 

 whether he wants a momentary liberty for his 

 accommodation and ease. He will remove 

 the rider's hand if he wants to cough ; he will 

 move his head if cramped by too long con- 

 finement, or to dislodge a fly, and the like. 

 The rider, discovering the cause of such 

 removal, will not correct (unless the horse, 

 presuming on his compliance, takes too much 

 liberty), but rather allow a reasonable accom- 

 modation, and be gentle and pleasant while 

 the horse is united and obedient. 



III. A light hand is that which lessens still 

 more the feeling between the rider's hand and 

 the horse's mouth, which was before mode- 

 rated by the gentle hand. 



