TURNING A HORSE. 249 



Breaking: "The body of a quadruped being supported at 

 two ends by limbs, it follows that when a horse turns of 

 his own accord, the point round which the revolution takes 

 place will approach the heavier end according to the difference 

 of weight on the two ends, As the weight on a horse's fore- 

 hand, which at the halt is only slightly more than that 

 on the hind-quarters, increases during movement in propor- 

 tion to the speed, the tendency to turn on the fore-hand, 

 when a turn is being made, will similarly increase. If the 

 weight were equally distributed between both ends of the 

 horse, his balance during a turn would be preserved in the 

 best possible manner, and the track of the hind feet would 

 coincide with that of the fore feet. In proportion, however, 

 as the weight on the fore-hand exceeds that on the hind- 

 quarters (or in proportion to the speed), the greater will 

 be the liability of the animal to fall or to have his 

 balance unduly disturbed when turning, by his hinder end 

 describing a larger arc than the fore part of his body ; or, in 

 other words, by the track of the hind feet going outside that 

 of the fore feet. To correct this tendency, we should, when 

 about to turn the horse during rapid movement, slacken 

 speed, lean back in the saddle and hold the horse's head up, 

 so as to bring the weight back ; draw back and apply the 

 outward leg (the left if the turn is being made to the right, 

 and vice versa} to the animal's side, and lean inwards, so 

 as to oppose the centrifugal force." In order to give, as 

 clearly as possible, the indication to turn, we should carry 

 the inward hand well away from the side of the horse ; 

 and to prevent the head being brought round (p. 26) and 

 the mouth-piece being pulled through the mouth, we should 

 keep the outward hand low (Figs. 201 and 202), and its 

 position fixed. 



The aids are applied for turning a horse at the walk 

 and trot, in a manner similar to that at the halt. 



