MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 229 



keep up the gait, (b) To turn. To keep up the gait, the "forward aids" 

 are used. To turn, the inside leg is active and the outside leg "guards" 

 and prevents the haunches from swinging outside the circle made by 

 the forelegs. 



It will be seen from the above that if a horse is inclined to throw his 

 haunches to the inside in making the about, the rider's inside leg will 

 become more active and force the haunches back on the circle ; the 

 outside leg acting as a "guard" to prevent the haunches from swinging 

 too far. The opposite is the case when the haunches have the tendency 

 to swing to the outside. The rider's weight is shifted to the right 

 buttock. The gait is kept up for "forward aids," should there be an 

 attempt to slow same on the turn. 



The bearing rein is used to make changes of direction when the reins 

 are held in one hand. When the horse answers this aid, he "reins over 

 the neck" (civilian expression). The etTect of this rein is as follows: 

 the rein acts against the side of the horse's neck in front of the withers 

 and bears in the direction w hich the rider wishes to g'o. There is little 

 action on the bit proper, the effect being to push the mass of the horse's 

 neck to the left or right. 



For example: "Right about, March" (rein aid only discussed). The 

 reins being held in one hand, are carried to the right so that the left 

 rein bears against the left side of the horse's neck in front of the 

 withers, thereby having a tendency to push the mass of the neck to the 

 right. It will be seen that the right rein, because of the fact that the 

 reins are carried to the right, acts as a leading or opening rein. There- 

 fore, when the reins are used as above described, they have two dis- 

 tinct efifects, one bearing and the other leading. 



The bearing rein may best be taught by having the soldier hold the 

 reins in both hands and when executing an "about," or a change of 

 direction, starting it by the use of the opening rein, completing the 

 movement with the bearing rein predominating. 



The "direct rein of opposition" opposes the forward movement and 

 acts directly to the rear, for example, when halting. 



If the gallop is taken for suppling purposes, it is better to form a 

 large circle wnth the instructor at the center, and increase the gait until 

 the horses break from the trot to the gallop. In this case, the action 

 of the outside leg should be stronger than that of the inside. Do not 

 take the gallop at the beginning of the hour. 



One common fault in applying leg aids is for the rider to carry the 

 "lower leg" back by bending the knee and allowing the heel to come 

 up. This is wrong. The lower leg moves to the rear only slightly. 

 In a well trained horse, this movement is imperceptible, in an untrained 

 animal the leg should not move more than an inch. Under any circum- 

 stances, the heel is always down. Leg aids are vibratory or pulsating 

 in character. A steady squeeze is merely tightening the grip. 



In working with circles, about, flank movements, etc., do not jump 

 from one movement to another. Give the rider a chance to get his horse 

 "in hand" before giving another movement. Five or ten yards will 

 straighten out a horse. 



