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thighs to lie at cafe. In short, a faddie ought to be, as nearly as poffible, as if cut out of the horse..

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When you want your horfe to move forward, raise his head a little, and touch him gently with your whip; or elfe, prefs the calves of your legs against his fides. If he does not move faft enough, prefs them with more force, and fo till the fpur juft touches him. By this practice he will (if he has any fpirit) move upon the leaft preffure of the leg. Never fpur him? by a kick; but if it be neceffary to fpur him brifkly, keep your heels clofe to his fides, and flacken their force as he becomes obedient.

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Keep your horfe's head high, that he may raife his neck and creft; play a little with the rein rein, and move the bit in his mouth, that he may not preís on it ia one conftant and continued When your horfe attempts to be vimanner; he not afraid of raifing his cious, take each rein feparate, one in head too high; he will naturally be each hand, and advancing your arms too ready to bring it down, and tire forward, hold him very short. In this your arms with its weight, on the cafe, it is common for the rider to abatement of his mettle. When pull him hard, with his arms low.- feel him heavy, stop him, and make But the horfe by this means having him go back a few paces: thus you his head low too, has. it more in his break by degrees his propenfity to power to throw out his heels: where- prefs on his bridle. as, if his head be raised very high, and his nose thrown out a little, which is confequent, he can neither rife before nor behind; because he can give himfelf neither of thofe motions, without having his head at liberty. A plank placed in equilibrio cannot rife at one end unless it finks at the other.

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You ought not to be pleafed (tho many are) with a round reck, and a head drawn in toward his breaft: let your horfe carry his head bridling in, provided he carries it high, and his neck arching upwards; but if his neck bends downward, his figure is bad, his fight is too near his toes, he leans on the bridle, and you have no command over him. If he goes preffing but lightly on the bridle, he is the more fure-footed, and goes pleafanter; as your wrist only may guide him. If he hangs down his head, and makes you fupport the weight of that and his neck with your arms bearing on his forelegs, (which is called being on his Shoulders) he will strike his toes on the ground, and stumble.

It your horfe is heavy upon the bit, tie him every day, for an hour or two, with his tail to the manger, and his head as high as you can make him lift it, by a rein on each poft of the stall, to each ring of the fnaffle bit.

Horfe breakers and grooms have a great

great propenfity to bring a horfe's head down, and feem to have no feat without a ftrong hold by the bridle. They know, indeed, that the head fhould yield to the reins, and the neck form an arch; but do not take the proper pains to make it an arch upward. A temporary effect of attempt ing to raise a horfe's head, may perhaps be making him push out his nofe. They will here tell you, that his head is too high already; whereas it is not the distance from his nofe, but from the top of his head to the ground, which determines the head to be high or low. Befides, although the fault is faid to be in the manner of carrying the head, it fhould rather be said to be in that of the neck; for if the neck was raifed, the head would be more in the position of one fet on a well-formed neck.

The defign therefore of lifting up the head is to raise the neck, and thereby bring in the head; for even while the bridle makes the fame line from the rider's hand to the bit, the horfe's nofe may be either drawn in, or thruft out, according as his neck is raifed or depreffed. Inftead of what has been here recommended, we ufually fee colts broke with their heads caveffoned very low, their necks (tiff, and not in the least suppled. When the breaking tackle is left off, and they are mounted for the road, having more food and reft, they frequently plange, and a fecond breaking becomes necef fary. Then, as few gentlemen can manage their own hörfes, they are put into the hands of grooms, from whom they learn a variety of bad habits.

If, on the other hand, your horfe carries his head (or rather his nofe) too high, he generally makes fome a mends by moving his fhoulders lightly, and going fafely. Attend to the caufe of this fault. Some horfes have their necks fet fo low on their fhoulders, that they bend firft down, then upward, like a flag's. Some have the

upper line of their necks, from their ears to their withers, too fhort. A head of this fort cannot poffibly bend inward and form an arch, because the vertebrae (or neck bones) are too fhort to admit of flexure; for in long and fhort-necked horfes the number of the vertebræ is the fame. In fome, the jaw is fo thick, that it meets the neck, and the head by this means has not room to bend. On the other hand, fome have the under line from the jaw to the breaft fo fhort, that the neck cannot rife.

In all thefe cafes you may gain a little by a nice hand with an eafy bit; but no curb, martingale, or other forcible method, will teach a horse to carry his head or neck in a posture which pature has made uneafy to him. By trying to pull in his nofe farther than he can bear, you will add a bad habit to nature. You could not indeed contrive a more effectual method to make him continually tofs his nofe up, and throw his foam over you.

The rule already given to ride a loofe-necked horfe, will be a proper one for all light-mouthed horfes: one caution being added, which is, always to fearch whether bis faddle or girths may not in fome way pinch him; and whether the bit may not hurt his lip by being too high in his mouth; becaufe, whenever he frets from either of these causes, his head will not be fteady.

It is a common cuftom to be always pulling at the bridle, as if to fet off to advantage either the fpirit of the horfe, or the fkill of the rider. Our horfes therefore are taught to hold their heads low, and pull, fo as to bear up the rider from the faddle, ftanding in his ftirrups, even in the gentleit gallop: how very improper this is, we are experimentally convinced, when we happen to meet with a horfe which gallops otherwife. We immediately fay, be canters excellently, and find the eafe and pleafure of his motion. When

horfes

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horfes are defigned for the race, and fwiftnefs is the only thing confidered, the method may be a good one.

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It is not to be wondered that dealers are always pulling at their horfes that they have the four conftantly in their fides, and are at the fame time continually checking the rein: by this means they make them bound, and champ the bit, while their rage has the appearance of fpirit. Thele peo ple ride with their arms spread, and very low on the fhoulders of their horfes this method makes them stretch their necks, and gives a better appearance to their fore hands ; it conceals alfo a thick jaw, which, if the head was up, would prevent its yield. ing to the bit; it hides likewife the ewe-neck, which would otherwife fhow itfelf. Indeed, if you have a horfe unfteady to the bit, formed with a natural heavy head, or one which carries his nofe obftinately in the air, you. muft find his mouth where you can, and make the best of him.

Many horfes are taught to ftart by whipping them for ftarting. How is it poflible they can know it is defigned as a punishment in the riding houfe, you teach your horfe to rife up be fore, and to fpring and lash out his hinder legs, by whipping him when tied between two pillars, with his head a little at liberty. If he understood this to be a punishment for doing fo, he would not by that method learn to do it. He feems to be in the fame manner taught to fpring and fly when he is frightened. Molt horfes would, go quietly paft an object they were be ginning to fly from, if their riders, in tead of gathering up their bridles, and fhowing themselves fo ready, should throw the reins foofe upon their

necks.

When a horfe ftarts at any thing on one fide, most riders turn him out of the road, to make him go up to what he starts at: if he does not get the better of his fear, or readily comply, he generally goes paft the object,

making with his hinder parts, or croup, a great circle out of the road; whereas, he fhould learn to keep ftraight on, without minding objects on either fide,

If he ftarts at any thing on the left, hold his head high, and keep it ftraight in the road, pulling it from looking at the thing he ftarts at, and keeping your right leg hard preffed against his fide, toward his flank: he will then go ftraight along the road. By this method, and by turning his head a little more, he may be forced with his croup close up to what frightened him; for as his head is pulled one way, his croup neceffarily turns the other.-Always avoid a quarrel with your horse, if you can: if he is apt to itart, you will find occafions enough to exercife his obedience, when what he ftarts at lies directly, in his way, and you must make him pafs; if he is not fubject to start, you should not quarrel with him about a trifle.

It must be obferved, however, that this rule in going past an object may perhaps be a little irregular in a managed horfe, which will always obey the leg but even fuch a horfe, if he is really afraid, and not reftive, it may not be amifs to make him look another way; unless the object be fomething you would particularly accuftom him to the fight of.

The cafe will also be different with a horfe whofe fear is owing to his being not ufed to objects; but fuch a one is not to be rode by any horfeman to whom thefe rules are directed: the starting here meant arifes merely from the horse's being pampered, and fpringing through livelinefs.

The notion of the neceffity of making a horfe go immediately up to every thing he is afraid of, and not fuffering him to become mafter of his rider, feems to be in general carried too far. It is an approved and good method to conquer a horfe's fear of the found of a drum, by beating one near to him at the time of feeding him: this not

only

only familiarifes the noife to him, but makes it pleasant, as a fore-runner of his meat; whereas, if he was whipped Though you ought not to whip up to it, he might perhaps start at it a horse from starting, there can be no as long as he lived. Might not this be good effect from clapping his neck applied to his ftarting at other things, with your hand to encourage him. and fhew that it would be better to If one took any notice of his starting, fuffer him (provided he does not turn it should be rather with fome tone of back) to go a little from and avoid anvoice which he ufually understood as object he has a dislike to, and torace an expreffion of diflike to what he is cultom him to it by degrees, convinc-doing; for there is oppofition mixed

may be ufeful hints for the treatment › of horfes with regard to ftarting.

ing him, as it were, that it will not

hurt him; than to punith him, quarrel with him, and perhaps fubmit to his will at last, while you infift on his o vercoming his fear in an inftant? If he fees a like object again, itis probable he will recollect his dread, and arm himself to be difobedient.co

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with his starting, and a horfe will ever repeat what he finds has foiled his rider.

pice? Is it a wonder that a horfe accuftomed to tened, he is.

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Notwithstanding the directions a bove given, of not preffing a horfe up to a carriage he ftarts at, yet if one which you apprehend will frighten him meets you at a narrow part of We are apt to fuppofe that at horfest the road, when you have once let him fears nothing fo much as his ridersin know he is to pafs ir, be fure you but may he not, in many circums remain determined, and prefs him on. flances, be afraid of inftant deftruc-Do this more especially when part of tion of being crushed? of being the carriage has already paffed you... drowned? of falling down a preci- for if, when he is frightened, he is go back, and turn round, he will certainly do it if he finds, by your hand flackening, and legs not preffing, that you are irrefolute; and this at the moft dangerous point of time, when the wheels of the carriage take him as he turns. Remember not to touch the curb-rein at this time; it will certainly check him. It is not known to every one, that the perfon who would lead horfe by the bridle fhould not turn his face to him when he refuses to follow him; if, befide this, he raifes his arms, thows his whip, or pulls the bridle with jerks, he frightens the horfe, inftead of perfuading him to follow, which a little patience may bring about.

hould be afraid of a loaded waggon? may not the hanging load feem to threaten the falling on him? There cannot be a rule, more general, than, in fuch a cafe, to fhow him there is room for him to pass. This is done by turning his head a very little from the carriage, and preffing your leg, which is fartheft from it, againft his fide.

A horfe is not to stop without a fign from his rider. Is it not then probable, that when driven up to a carriage he ftarts at it, he conceives himself obliged either to attack or run againft it? Can he understand their rider's fpurring him with his face directed to it, as a fign for him to pafs it? That a horfe is eafily alarmed for his face and eyes (he will even catch back his head from a hand going to Carefs him) that he will not go with any force, face to face, even to another horfe (if in his power to ftop) and that he fees perfectly fideways,

V

Ride with a fnaffle; and ufe your curb, if you have one, only occafion, ally. Choufe your fnaffle full and thick in the mouth, especially at the ends to which the reins are faftened, Molt of them are made too small and long; they cut the horse's mouth, and

bend

bend back over the bars of his jaw, working like pincers.

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ing, know they have any power over a horfe but by the bridle; or any use for the fpur, except to make him go forward. A little experience will teach them a farther ufe. If the left fpur touches him (and he is at the fame time prevented from going forward) he has a fign, which he will

The management of the curb is too nice a matter to enter on here, farther than to prefcribe great caution in the ufe of it; a turn of the wrift, rather than the weight of your arm, fhould be applied to it. The elafticity of a rod, when it hath hooked a fith, mayefoonsunderstand, to move fideways to give you fome idea of the proper play the right. In the fame manner to the of a horfe's head on his bridle; his left, if the right fpur is clofed to him, fpirit and his pliablenefs are both he afterward, through fear of the marked by it. fpur, obeys a touch of the leg ; in the fame manner as a horse moves his croup from one fide of the ftall to the other, when any one ftrikes him with his hand. In short, his croup is guided by the leg, as his head is by the bridle. He will never disobey the leg, unless he becomes reftive. By this means you will have a far greater power over him: he will move fideways, if you clofe one leg to him; and straight forward, if both: even when he stands ftill, your legs held near him will keep him on the watch; and with the flighteft, unfeen motion of the bridle upward, he will raise his head, and how his forehand to advantage.

A horfe fhould never be put to do any thing in a curb which he is not ready at: you may force him, or pull his head any way with a fnaffle; but a curb acts only in a ftraight line. It is true, that a horfe will be turned out of one track into another by a curb, but it is because he knows it as a fignal. When he is put to draw a chair, and does not understand the neceffity he is then under of taking a larger fweep when he turns, you fre. quently fee him reftive, as it is then called but put him on a fnaffle, or buckle the rein to that part of the bit which does not curb him: and the horfe fubmits to be pulled about, till he understands what is desired of him. Thefe directions fuppofe your horfe to have fpirit, and a good mouth: if he has not, you must take him as he is, and ride him with fuch a bit as you find most eafy to yourself.

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On this use of the legs of the rider, and guidance of the croup of the horfe, are founded all the airs (as the riding-mafters exprefs themfelves) which are taught in the manege; the paffage, or fide-motion of troopers to cofe or open their files, and indeed horfe's nice car-all their evolutions. But the convenience of fome degree of this difcipline for common ufe is the reafon of mentioning it here. It is useful if a horfe is apt to ftumble or ftart. If to the firft, by preffing your legs to his flank, and keeping up his head, he is made to go light on his fore-legs, which is aiding and fupporting him; and the fame if he does actually tumble, by helping him at the very inftant to exert himself, while as yet any part of him remains not irrecoverably impreffed with the precipitate motion. Hence this ufe of the hand and legs of

When you ride a journey, be not fo attentive to your riage of himself, as to your encouragement of him, and keeping him in good humour. Rafte his head; but if he flags, you may indulge him with bearing a little more upon the bit than you would fuffer in an airing. If a horfe is lame, tender-footed, or tired, he naturally hangs upon his, bridle. On a journey, therefore, his mouth will depend greatly on his ffrength and the goodness of his feet. Be then very careful about his feet, and let not a farrier fpoil them.

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