HORSE CONTROL 19 



sliouldcr.s, iiiid the sliouldcrs in rcUitioii to the (iiuirtcrs. 

 They ciin even act indirectly on the (juiirters, by 

 ^ivin*:^ to the shoulders ti position whieh obli^as the 

 ({uarters to chan<j[e their direction, i.e. they oppose 

 the shoulders to the quarters. 



These different effects depend upon the direction 

 given to the tension on the rein, according as the hand 

 is carried more or less forward or backward, more or 

 less to the right or left, more or less upAvards or 

 downwards. 



The various actions of the hand can be grouped in 

 live main series, but this is a purely theoretical division, 

 which helps in the study and application of the aids. 

 Between these extreme actions, forward to the right, 

 backward to the right, backward to the left, and for- 

 ward to the left, there are numberless directions, or 

 tensions, which form as it were a keyboard, on which 

 the rider will find the right note all the more quickly 

 in accordance with his knowledge, experience, and 

 tact. 



1. {a) In carrying the hand to the right, the rider 

 displaces the head of the horse towards the right ; the 

 right rein in this case takes the name of the " oj^ened 

 rein.'' The rider should avoid pulling backwards on 

 the rein and moving his elbow from the side. 



(b) If the rider increases the movement of the 

 right hand towards the right, the neck follows the 

 head, the shoulders follow the neck, and the horse 

 looks to the right, whilst advancing. 



2. By giving to the right opened rein a backward 

 tension, the rider draws his horse's shoulders backwards 

 and to the right, and forces him to throw his quarters 

 to the left. The rein is now called the direct rein of 

 oppobition. This action is produced by lowering the 



