220 MOUNTED BREAKING. 



" square " in the saddle, which is imperative in military 

 equitation, it is impossible to exercise, to any appreciable 

 extent, a stronger pressure against the horse's side with 

 one leg than with the other, owing to the fact that the rider 

 can obtain no fixed point on the side opposite to that on 

 which he may wish to apply pressure. Any slight differ- 

 ence between the lateral pressure of one leg and that of its 

 fellow can be gained only by means of the friction between 

 the rider's seat and the saddle. Even if such " stronger 

 pressure " were practicable, it would fail to be effective, 

 unless perhaps it was far superior to any muscular effort 

 of which the human leg is capable ; for its centre of ap- 

 plication would be little, if anything, behind the centre of 

 gravity of the weight to be moved. Granting that the 

 mechanical effect even of the drawn-back leg, as in Fig. 

 108, is not great ; we must remember that the horse, by 

 the method I have indicated, has been taught to accept 

 it as a signal for moving his hind-quarters away from it, 

 of for checking their advance towards it. The presence 

 of a spur on the drawn-back foot will increase its effect 

 both as regards intensity of impression and by bringing 

 the point of application still further back. At the same 

 time, the more we eliminate the element of pain from the 

 signals which we habitually employ with the horse, the 

 less likely shall we be to render him unsteady, and conse- 

 quently unsafe to ride or drive. 



It is reasonable to say that in turning the horse at the 

 walk or trot, we should feel the inward rein as the out- 

 ward fore leg comes down. At the trot, the pace would 

 have to be very slow and collected to allow this to be done 

 with precision. 



