what we want him to do. As soon as he correctly marks the first two times, without showing any wish to escape from the spurs, we may try to get him to do four, six or more, and we can continue to increase the number, as long as we hold him easily in this position ; but we should not overdo it.

We should, of course, stop the piaffer and send the horse forward, well in hand, the moment we feel he can escape from us, whether by bringing his haunches sideways, doing a half-rear or reining back, which is still worse.

In the first case, we should straighten the haunches by a sharp touch of the spur, given on the side to which he throws himself, and by way of punishment.

If he makes a half-rear, we are forced to slacken the reins, to avoid an accident ; but the spurs should be kept close to the sides (Fig. 65) ; because if that were not done, he would constantly rear. The action of the spurs ought to be increased by small touches until the horse has become quiet in hand, in which case he has " given in."

Running back is the most difficult and dangerous fault to overcome. If, on being lightly touched, he violently runs back, the reins should he left quite loose, and the spurs should be used more vigorously. Repeated touches of the spurs close to the girths are a means which the horse cannot resist, if they are energetically continued. Besides, I have already said that we should never spur a horse which is stationary, until we have taught him to go freely forward on being touched by the spurs. Therefore, I do not incur the liability of combatting the defence which I have described. If, however, I had to do so, I would easily settle the matter by repeated attacks of the spurs, which act like the roll of a drum. But if, on account of insufficient breaking, we have to deal with this defence, and if we cannot continue the repeated attacks of the spurs behind the girths, we should take a cutting whip or cane, or get an assistant armed with a driving