26 THE HORSE AS A RIDING MACHINE. 



pivot (Fig. 28) for the change of direction. In the canter and 

 gallop this pivot should be the leading fore leg ; because this 

 leg bears much more weight (see Figs, i to 16, and Figs. 17 to 

 24) during each stride than the non-leading fore leg. There- 

 fore, at these paces, a horse should lead with the fore leg of 

 the side to which the turn is being made. Besides, if a horse 

 which was leading with, say, the right fore, attempted to turn 

 to the left (and vice versa), he would be in great danger of 

 crossing his legs and falling, on account of the leading fore leg 

 going in front of the non-leading one ; but it is impossible 

 for the latter to cross the former. As the leading fore leg is 

 advanced more than the non-leading one, the horse when 

 turning at the canter or gallop (contrary to what is the case at 

 the halt, walk and trot), will require to have his head some- 

 what turned away from the side to which the change of 

 direction is being made. 



