course, that he does not play up, which he will very rarely do if I require almost nothing from him.

If he carries his head too low, I try to raise it by almost imperceptible touches on the snaffle reins, which I draw upwards, and not from front to rear. If he holds his head too high, I feel the curb reins very lightly, and in such a way as not to stop his forward movement. If he stops on account of the action of the curb, I let the reins loose and apply my legs behind the girths. In this case the legs have an effect similar to that of the cutting whip during work on foot. I keep on at the horse until I have obtained forward movement, which is the great end that has to be obtained at any price.

Having obtained this forward movement, I prolong it, as I have said, for a few turns round the school, while trying to get the head into a good position ; but I work very lightly, and always in such a manner as not to stop the horse. If I obtain only a little play in the mouth, I get off, and make a few flexions on foot until he obeys. I then give him some carrots and send him to the stable.

Carrots ought always be cut lengthwise and never across, in which case they might stick in the animal's throat. I have seen a horse almost choked by swallowing carrots cut across. I do not give sugar to a horse, because if he is bridled and plays with his bit, it will produce a foam that will soil one's clothes, which is the smallest objection. A more serious one is that sugar given in the stable predisposes a horse to crib-bite. He begins by licking his manger, and, finding the taste agreeable, he finishes by persistently biting it, which is a habit that will often make him crib-bite or wind-suck.

In this mounted lesson, I have asked the horse only to go forward, while making him lightly work his jaw. Further, as a general rule, we should not demand from him several things at a time, because he will be apt to confuse them, and we may mistake for disobedience a simple want of comprehension on his part.