THE-:- HORSE 



more advanced foreleg with the riding crop, 

 and at the same time taking the reins with one 

 hand the rider should give a pressure back- 

 ward, preferably with little jerks, so that he 

 will not try to pull against the bit, which he 

 might do if an even pressure were applied. 



Changing Direction. — To change direction 

 to the right, a little extra pressure should be 

 brought to bear upon the right rein, with one 

 or two almost imperceptible jerks to bring 

 the horse's head in the direction in which it is 

 desired to go, and a firm pressure should be 

 maintained on the right rein, which has the 

 tendency to pull the horse's head to the right, 

 and the right rein should be a little shorter 

 than the left. The left rein is brought to bear 

 its pressure on the near side of the horse's 

 neck. In this way the average saddle horse 

 can be made to turn to the right. 



To go in the opposite direction, the same 

 system of control applies, but inversely. 



Changing Leads at a Gallop. — In changing 

 leads at a gallop, to turn to the right, the 

 horse, if not leading to the right, should be 

 made to do so, because only in this way will 

 he be able to make a perfect turn. In leading 

 to the right at a gallop the horse's right leg 

 makes a longer stride, and when the two fore- 

 legs strike, or nearly strike the ground, the 

 leg on which he leads is always in front. The 

 horse in leading right, since he keeps his left 



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