226 HANDS AND LEGS (AIDS). 



WEIGHT OF THE BODY. 



All changes in the position of the weight of the body, 

 as an indication and help to the horse, should be effected as 

 far as possible only by the play of the joints of the hips and 

 those of the body, so that the position of the legs may not be 

 altered ; for if that were done, the security of the seat would 

 be more or less imperilled. Hence, in bending the body to 

 one side, as for instance in turning, the grip of the knees on 

 the flaps of the saddle should be increased, so as to avoid 

 placing much more weight on one stirrup than on the other 

 stirrup, which might have the effect of disarranging the posi- 

 tion of the saddle. In such cases, it is almost impossible 

 during rapid movement to help putting a little more weight 

 on one stirrup than on the other. 



VOICE. 



" The horse's keen perception of sound makes the human 

 voice a powerful means of controlling and guiding him by 

 association of ideas. As he readily recognises change of tone, 

 but not of words, we should reserve a particular tone for 

 each of our different orders, the number of which should be 

 kept as small as possible, so that ambiguity may be avoided. 

 Also it is, of course, well to have only one unvarying word or 

 expression for each order .... We should carefully refrain 

 from wearying the attention of the animal by needlessly 

 speaking to him. In fact, we should reserve the use of our 

 voice for occasions on which it is needed to produce a definite 

 effect " (Illustrated Horse-Breaking). 



POSITION OF THE HANDS. 



A horse at the trot, canter or gallop, usually carries his 

 head at an angle of about 45 to the ground, in which 

 position the higher the snaffle reins are held above the 



