24 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP 



throws the quarters to the right, by opposing the 

 shoulders to them. The left leg also presses the 

 quarters to the right. 



(e) The right indirect rein of opposition (drawn 

 across behind the withers), by bending the neck to the 

 right, has the effect of carrying the weight on to the 

 left shoulder and quarter, and draws, when the horse 

 is moving, all the weight forward, and to the left, by 

 opposing the head and the neck to the shoulders and 

 quarters. 



The right leg by pressing the quarters towards the 

 left, strengthens and increases the movement, which 

 the left leg acting against the girths also maintains. 



It must be well understood that in recommending 

 the action of one leg, it is not implied that the other 

 should remain inactive ; it should, on the contrary, 

 keep up and regulate the impulsion, as has been said 

 before when speaking of the harmony of the legs. 



Weight of the body. — In studying the action of 

 the reins, it has become evident that under their 

 influence the balance of the horse is affected to the 

 extent of turning him either to the right or left, accord- 

 ing as the weight of the neck is carried on to one or 

 other of the shoulders. The shoulders unequally 

 weighted turn to the side on which the excess of weight 

 inclines them. 



The distribution, equal or unequal, of the w^eight 

 of the horse on to the limbs, which support it, has a 

 direct influence in imparting a line of movement to 

 the whole body. 



When the horse is mounted, the mass which the 

 legs sustain is not wholly comprised in the weight of 

 the horse itself ; it is necessary to add also that of the 

 horseman, the upper part of whose body in displacing 



