Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 edition. Excerpt: ...their horses well up to the bit, and putting them together with the use of hand and leg; to see that in all turns, circles, &c, &c, the men bend their horses' heads and necks in the new direction before leaving the boards. Endeavour to make them perfect in their bending and trotting lessons; practise the going "about on the haunches" by frequently halting the rides when at the boards, and giving the word, "On the Haunches About" "March." You then form up and finish with the same bending lessons you began with, namely, "Circling on the forehand," "on the Haunches," "Reining in," and "Applying the Spur." The Horse's Paces. WALK, TROT, AND CANTER. How to Strike off a Horse to both Hands at a Canter--How to change when False or Disunited. The Walk. Monsieur Baucher does not begin the trot till he has perfected the horse at the walk, but I found it answered better in practice to go on with the trotting at the same time; however get a thing well done at a walk before you try it at a trot. Before moving forward, the horse should be light in hand, the head brought home (and not with the nose stuck out), the neck arched, and he should stand evenly on both hind legs. Close the legs and communicate a sufficient impulse to carry him forward, but do not ease the hand at the same time, as laid down in the old system, because if you do, the head and neck may relapse into a position which will defy the control of the hand. The rider should always have a light feeling of both reins, and when the horse bores on the bit, keep the hand steady, use both legs, which, by bringing his haunches under him, will oblige the horse to take his weight off your hand. THE TROT. A horse trots...