MODERN RIDING. 283 



in gathering him together, you over do your 

 part, you check his next extension. 



If you do not sufficiently support the horse, 

 he dare not extend himself so far as he could 

 under a confident support of the hand, be- 

 cause that support is a great assistance in 

 gathering himself together. The eagerness 

 of the horse will make him extend himself 

 as far as he can safely, independent of the 

 hand ; and the labour and exertion of gather- 

 ing himself, without support from the hand, 

 exhausts his wind and strength, and the horse 

 is said to be blown. It is therefore neces- 

 sary that the rider's strength should hold out 

 with that of the horse : the one depends on 

 the other. 



On the other hand, the support the hand is 

 to afford is to be no more than what the 

 horse takes ; for the hand is not to dictate to 

 the horse at what rate he is to pull. If the 

 horse rides cool and steady, he will take a 

 support equal to the rate or extension he is 



