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the riders choose according to their habits, temperament, and style of riding. Horses have certain innate qualities which cannot be given or replaced by breeding, rearing, or breaking.
The first thing to require is surefootedness, which is a sine quâ non. It is absolutely necessary that the animal will make no mistake at any of his paces. Hence we like our horses to raise their feet freely and to place them in a well-balanced manner on the ground. A horse which drags his legs, or " daisy cuts," is apt to make a false step by striking a stone or other inequality on the ground, and may consequently fall down.
A horse which brings his toe first on the ground will be very apt to stumble, which is a fault we find among animals which " daisy cut." A horse which raises his feet properly, cannot dig his toes into the ground, and must necessarily place them flat.
A hack should have pluck. That is to say, he should not be restless or nervous. No amount of training can cure a horse of stumbling, or give pluck to an animal which is always ready to shy or spin round.
As long as a good rider holds his horse between his hands and knees, and is on the alert,[1] he will save him from break-
We should not only watch a skittish horse, but should also engage his attention as soon as he shows any signs of nervousness. In such cases many riders will not use their legs for fear of exciting the animal, and they continually hang on to the reins, especially those of the snaffle. By allowing him to be a prey to his fear, the rider does the very thing to increase it. By giving the animal a support on the bit, he is placed in the most favourable condition to play up.
We should act in an entirely different manner, and, by the energetic use of the legs, should drive the horse forward ; because, at the first show of uneasiness, his tendency will necessarily be to get behind his bit, which is a preparation for shying, spinning round, and rearing. We should at the same time profit by the impulse given, in order to place the horse vigorously but lightly in hand, by means of the alternate effects of the curb and snaffle. Having got him in hand, we should give him a lateral flexion to the side opposite to which his object of terror is on. Finally, while keeping him well in hand, we should press him boldly forward, which is, in every case, the least dangerous thing to ↩︎