Page:Equitation.djvu/411

 horse that advances at the effects of the rider's legs, giving to the hand of the rider the contact upon the bit, is never accule.

A HORSE, in rearing, shifts the entire weight to the hind hand, brings its hind legs forward under its body, and raises its fore hand very high in the air, either bending its fore legs at the knees or extending them very high and pawing the air. Altogether it is the most dangerous defense of the horse when habitual, and bad enough when only sporadic. In either case, the animal becomes quite impossible for a woman rider.

Rearing may be the result of several causes. The principal ones are: sudden fear; bad eyesight; weakness in the hind legs or loins; pains within the abdomen or in the region of the sacrum, pelvis, or pubis; too tight a curb chain; a too severe hand; saccades against the bars; abuse of means and effects; the physical confusion which results from too rapid progress with the training. Sometimes, too, especially at certain ages, the teeth are growing or are being lost, and the gums are sore. Besides