272 



PRINCIPLES OF 



P. IX. 



head, separating the reins will increase your 

 power, and moving the bit by opening the 

 fingers first of one hand and then of the other, 

 will disarm a part of his defence. 



The planting your feet forward in the stir- 

 rups, to pull against, is not to be done in 

 these cases; your hold must be from the 

 grasp of the legs and knee, and the check 

 which you give the horse will not then dis- 

 turb your seat ; but were your legs planted 

 forward, the check of the horse would throw 

 you high from the saddle, and, if it should 

 be on one side, you might come to the 

 ground. 



There are occasions on which the legs are 

 placed a little forward to increase your pull, 

 but this is only when you intend to impede 

 the horse without stopping. You then put 

 your legs forward, and throw your weight 

 out of centre, for the moment only ; for by 

 this you increase the weight or pressure of 

 the saddle on the horse, which would be 



