gets out of hand, and only about half extends his fore legs. In this case we should always recommence the work by sending him forward and requiring a complete extension.

We must not think that we are always certain to succeed even by exactly following the directions I have given. It depends on the intelligence of the rider to use all the means in his power to make the horse understand what is required of him. This is a question of tact. Besides, when a riding master breaks his first horse he is not sure of himself, and he is, therefore, obliged to feel his way. Only after breaking three or four horses, he will be able to tell if he has done well or if he has failed.

A horse ought not to be asked to do the Spanish walk unless he is very supple, and, above all things, unless he is perfectly obedient to the aids. In fact, we should be always certain of making him go forward. But in this work we require him to stand the spur without hardly going forward.

As we are obliged to have the hands high in order to raise the neck, we thus throw a great portion of the weight on the hind quarters, and consequently risk making the animal get behind his bit. It may thus happen that instead of raising one fore leg, he will, by raising two, make a half-rear, which is not a formidable defence, because it is a forward movement. Or he may rear, which is more dangerous, especially if the reins are pulled. It frequently happens in breaking, that in order to make the horse go forward, we are obliged, for a time, to give up the attempt of obtaining a movement which we are teaching. If we sometimes tolerate, even a little, a tendency on the part of the horse to get behind his bit, we will soon be powerless to make him go forward. He will quickly understand that he can get out of hand by getting behind his bit, to which expedient he will continually have recourse.

All stationary work, the object of which is to teach the