head, it should rather be said to be in that of the neck; for, if the neck was raised, the head would be more in the position of one set on a well formed neck. The design, therefore, of lifting up the head is to raise the neck, and thereby bring in the head; for, even while the bridle makes the same line from the rider's hand to the bit, the horse's nose may be either drawn in or thrust out, according as his neck is raised or depressed. Instead of what has been here recommended, we usually see colts broken with their heads cavessoned very low, their necks stiff, and not in the least suppled. When the breaking tackle is left off, and they are mounted for the road, having more food and rest, they frequently plunge, and a second breaking becomes necessary. Then, as few gentlemen can manege their own horses, they are put into the hands of grooms, from whom they learn a variety of bad habits. No curb, martingale, or other forcible method, will teach a horse to carry his head or neck in a posture which nature has made uneasy to him. By trying to pull in his nose farther than he can bear you will give him a bad habit. You could not indeed contrive a more effectual method to make him continually toss his nose up and throw his foam over you. It is a common custom to be always pulling at the bridle, as if to set off to advantage either the spirit of the horse, or the skill of the rider. Our horses therefore are taught to hold their heads low, and pull so as to bear up the rider from the saddle, standing in his stirrups, even in the gentlest gallop: how very improper this is we may be experimentally convinced; when we happen to meet with a horse which gallops otherwise we immediately say, he canters excellently, and find the ease and pleasure of his motion. When horses are designed for the race, and swiftness is the only thing considered, the method may be a good one. It is not to be wondered that dealers are always pulling at their horses: that they have the spur constantly in their sides, and are at the same time continually checking the rein: by these means they make them bound, and champ the bit, while their rage has the appearance of spirit. These people ride with their arms spread, and very low on the shoulders of their horses: a method which makes them stretch their necks, and gives a better appearance to their forehands: it conceals also a thick jaw, which, if the head were up, would prevent its yielding to the bit: it hides likewise the ewe-neck, which would otherwise show itself. Indeed, if you have a horse unsteady to the bit, formed with a naturally heavy head, or one which carries his nose obstinately in the air, you must find his mouth where you can, and make the best of him. Many horses are taught to start by whipping them for starting. How is it possible they can know it is designed as a punishment? In the riding house the horse is taught to rise up before, and to spring 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 so, he would not by that method learn to do it. He seems to be in the same manner taught to spring and fly when he is frightened. Most horses would go quietly past an object from which they were beginning to fly if their riders, instead of gathering up their bridles and showing themselves so ready, would throw the reins loose upon their necks. When a horse starts at any thing on one side the generality of riders turn him out of the road, to make him go up to the cause of his starting: if he does not get the better of his fear, or readily comply, he commonly goes past the object, making with his hinder parts, or croup, a great circle out of the road; whereas he should learn to keep straight on, without minding objects on either side. If he starts at any thing on the left, hold his head high, and keep it straight in the road, pulling it from looking at the thing he starts at, and keeping your right leg hard pressed against his side, towards his flank: he will then go straight 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 necessarily turns the other. Always avoid a quarrel with your horse, if you can: if he is apt to start you will find occasions enough to exercise his obedience, when what he starts at lies directly in his way, and you must make him pass; if he is not subject to start you should not quarrel with him about a trifle. It must be observed, however, that this rule, in going past an object, may perhaps be a little irregular in a maneged horse, which will always obey the leg: but even such a horse, if he is really afraid, and not restive, it may not be amiss to make look another way; unless the object be something to the sight of which you would particularly accustom him. The case will also be different with a horse whose fear is owing to his not being used to objects; but such a one is not to be rode by any horseman to whom these rules are directed the starting here meant arises merely from the horse's being pampered, and springing through liveliness. The practice of making a horse go immediately p to every thing he is afraid of, and not suffering nim to become master of his rider, seems to be sometimes carried too far. We are apt to suppose that a horse fears nothing so much as his rider: but may he not, in many circumstances, be afraid of instant destruction? of being crushed? of being drowned? of falling down a precipice? Is it a wonder that a horse should be afraid of a loaded waggon? may not the hanging load seem to threaten the falling on him? There cannot be a rule more general than, in such a case, to show him there is room for him to pass. This is done by turning his head a very little from the carriage, and pressing your leg which is farthest from it against his side. A horse is not to stop without a sign from his rider. Is it not then probable that, when driven up to a carriage he starts at it, he conceives himself obliged either to attack or run against it? Can he understand the rider's spurring him, with his face directed to it, as a sign for him to pass it? That a horse is easily alarmed for his face easy. and eyes is evident from this, that he will even is, an ride him with such a bit as you find catch back his head from a hand going to caress him. That he will not go with any force, face to face, even to another horse, if in his power to stop; and that he sees perfectly sideways, are useful hints for the treatment of horses with regard to starting. Though you ought not to whip a horse for starting, there can be no good effect from clapping his neck with your hand to encourage him. If you take any notice of his starting, it should be rather with some tone of voice which he usually understands as an expression of dislike to what he is doing; for there is opposition mixed with his starting, and a horse will ever repeat what he finds has foiled his rider. Notwithstanding the directions above given, of not pressing a horse up to a carriage he starts at, yet, if one which you apprehend will frighten him meets you at a narrow part of the road, when you have once let him know he is to pass it be sure you remain determined, and press him on. Do this more especially when part of the carriage has already passed you: for if, when he is frightened, he is accustomed to go back, and turn round, he will certainly do it if he finds, by your hand slackening and legs not pressing, that you are irresolute; and this at the most 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. The person who would lead a horse by the bridle should not turn his face to him when he refuses to follow him if he raises his arms, shows his whip, or pulls the bridle with jerks, he frightens the horse, instead of persuading him to follow; which a little patience may bring about. Ride with a snaffle; and use your curb, if you have one, only occasionally. Choose your snaffle full and thick in the mouth, especially at the ends to which the reins are fastened. Most of them are made too small and long; they cut the horse's mouth, and bend back over the bars of his jaw, working like pin cers. The management of the curb is a very nice matter: a turn of the wrist, rather than the weight of your arm, should be applied to it. The elasticity of a rod, when a fish is hooked, may give some idea of the proper play of a horse's head on his bridle; his spirit and his pliableness are both marked by it. A horse should never be put to do any thing which he is not ready at, in a curb; you may force him, or pull his head any way, with a snaffle, but a curb acts only in a straight line. A horse may indeed be turned out of one track into another by a curb; but it is because he knows it is a signal. When he is put to draw a chain, and does not understand the necessity he is then under of taking a larger sweep when he turns, you frequently see him restive, as it is then called; but put him on a snaffle, or buckle the rein to that part of the bit which does not curb him, and the horse submits to be pulled about, till he understands what is desired of him. These directions suppose your horse to have spirit, and a good mouth; if he has not, you must take him as he When you ride upon a journey be not so tentive to your horse's nice carriage of h as to your encouragement of him, and kee him in good humor. Raise his head; ba flags, indulge him with bearing a little an upon the bit than you would suffer in an If a horse is lame, tender-footed, or tr naturally hangs upon his bridle. On a jour therefore, his mouth will depend greatly en strength and the goodness of his feet. Be very careful about his feet, and let not a blacks spoil them. Few people, even though practised in rid know they have any power over a horse but the bridle; nor any use for the spur, except : make him go forward. A little experience teach them a further use. If the left spur thes him, and he is at the same time prevented going forward, he has a sign, which he wil so understand, to move sideways to the ngit the same manner to the left, if the right goads him. He afterwards, through fear of la spur, obeys a touch of the leg, in the same ma as a horse moves his croup from one side of the stall to the other, when any one strikes him w his hand. In short, his croup is guided by leg as his head is by the bridle. He will never disobey the leg, unless he becomes restive. B these means you will have a far greater power over him; he will move sideways if you che one leg to him; and straight forward if both: even when he stands still, your legs held r him will keep him on the watch; and, with th slightest unseen motion of the bridle upwar he will raise his head, and show his fore-ha to advantage. On this use of the legs of the rider, and guidance of the croup of the here, are founded all the airs (as the riding-masters press themselves) which are taught in the mares, the passage, or side-motion of troopers to close or open their files; and indeed all their evolutions. of But some degree of this discipline is conve nient even for common use. It is useful if a horse is apt to stumble or start. By pressing your legs to his flank, and keeping up his head, he is made to go light on his fore-legs, which is aiding and supporting him; and, if he does aotually stumble, by helping him at the very stant to exert himself, while as yet any part him remains not irrecoverably impressed with the precipitate motion. Hence this use of the hand and legs of the rider is called giving aids to a horse; for, as to holding up the weight of a heavy inactive horse by mere pulling, it is as impossible as to recover him when falling down a precipice. A horse is supporte. and helped by the hands and legs of his rider in every action they require of him; hence be is said to perform his airs by the aids from his rider. The same discipline is useful if a horse starts. For if, when he is beginning to fly to one side, you press your leg on the side he is flying to, he stops his spring immediately; he goes past what he started at, keeping straight on, or as you choose to direct him: and he will not fly back |