is precisely the result of lateral flexion at the withers ; whilst lateral flexion at the poll, on the contrary, stiffens the neck, and binds all the forehand in such a manner as to displace it from the whole, which is an indispensable result, as I have explained, because the rider has no direct action on the shoulders. Head low and isolated from the body by a movable neck, which yields of itself without drawing the shoulders, and allows the horse to oppose every movement of the neck by a movement of the shoulders in an opposite direction, with consequent impossibility of directing the fore-hand, and the results of a lateral flexion at the withers and of a lowering of the neck which follows it.

Contrary to direct flexion (which I never practise, either on foot or mounted, except when going forward), lateral flexion at first is done on foot, when the horse is standing still, on account of the difficulty of putting the hind quarters in movement. In mounted work, I practise lateral flexion only when going forward. I make it an absolute rule, once I am mounted, never to ask my horse anything except when he is advancing, and I have consequently avoided making my school horses inclined to get behind their bit, which is the usual danger in high school breaking.^[1]

In mounted work, lateral flexion is made by the same mechanism as on foot. In order to bend the neck to the right, the near snaffle rein, tightened and drawn to the right, keeps the head high, and, being pressed against the upper part of the neck, it pushes the head from left to right, while the off curb rein, slightly tightened, aids this movement, and loosens the jaw (Fig. 35).