68 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP 



but the search for balance ; halting is an excellent 

 exercise for horses high and strong in the hind quarters, 

 and which are consequently difficult to regulate in their 

 paces. 



Turning. — Horses are accustomed to follow the 

 man who leads them with the bridoon reins : it is this 

 oj^en action of the reins, always responded to by the 

 horse, which serves as a basis for guiding him. 



(a) To turn to the right the rider opens slightly 

 the right rein by carrying the hand forward and to the 

 right ; it is necessary in this movement to carry the 

 passive hand forward and down, so as not to counteract 

 the active rein. 



It is in fact very important with young horses, that 

 every sensation that we give him should be perfectly 

 distinct and clear. 



The effect of opening the rein should make itself 

 felt to the side, and with the least possible backward 

 tension. It nevertheless provokes a slight reduction of 

 speed which the pressure of the legs should counteract. 



(b) The horse having been taught that his main 

 duty in life is to go forward, as the action of a single 

 leg, whilst it stimulates him to move forward, pushes 

 the quarters to the opposite side, one takes advantage 

 of the fact that the action of the hand tends to the same 

 result, to associate with it the action of the leg, and 

 thus strengthen it. Thus the young horse is taught 

 the action which results from the opening of a rein, 

 and the pressure of one leg, and accustoms him to 

 carry the quarters to the side opposite to the actiA^e 

 leg. 



(c) When the horse readily obeys, at the walk and 

 trot, the action of the opened rein, teach him the 

 action of the indirect rein, that is to say, in view of the 



