rider. This is not quite true, because it is evident that the animal cannot know what is in the mind of the man on his back ; but he can feel that the " aids," like the will of the rider, are hesitating.

To make the horse resolute we should, in the first instance, be resolute ourselves. If our pluck gives way, our " aids " will be vacillating ; but if we harden our heart, we will transmit

Fig. 46.—Clearing a fence.

confidence to the horse by means of the " aids," which, in this case, should act with vigour and precision.

The rider who goes up to a fence for the first time, usually imagines that he will receive a terrible shock. As a rule, he instinctively stiffens himself so as not to be displaced, and when he falls off, the accident is generally due to this stiffness.

As I have already said, we should give with the hands at