250 



GUIDANCE AND CONTROL. 



It is evident that at the walk or trot, a mounted horse 

 will turn best when he receives the signal to do so, at the 

 moment that the outward fore leg comes on the ground ; 

 for in response to the signal he can then check the forward 

 reach of the inward fore leg, and can also carry it to a 

 greater or less distance to that side, in which case it will be 

 in a favourable position to act as a pivot for the fore-hand. 



Fig. 201. F i g . 202 



Turning a horse with the outward hand kept low. 



If, on the contrary, the horse begins the turn while the inward 

 fore leg is on the ground, he will cross his legs and place 

 himself in an awkward if not a dangerous position. As, 

 luckily for us, horses take no pleasure in falling down, they 

 will rarely make a mistake in turning this way. At the 

 canter or gallop, there is a considerable amount of danger 

 in trying to turn an ill-broken horse to the side opposite to 



