64 BIDING AND TRAINING SADDLE-HORSES. 



turning or moving. For instance, if it is the intention 

 to turn or to move the horse at a gallop to the right, he 

 must have the head and croup bent to the right, and 

 must take the lono^ strides of the srait with the fore and 

 hind-leg of that side. This will preserve his center of 

 gravity, and in case of a mistake he has his legs in under 

 him to help him to a recovery. If the horse is galloping 

 in a straight line, it makes no difference with which of 

 his fore-legs he takes the long stride or lead, provided 

 the hind-leg of that side corresponds. If a horse takes 

 the long strides with the right fore-leg and the left hind- 

 leg he is disunited, and has not got his powers well in 

 control. If, in turning to the left, he is leading with 

 the right legs, he can with difficulty retain the center of 

 gravity, and is apt to fall at the slightest blunder. We 

 say that a horse leads on that side when he makes the 

 long strides with the legs of one or other side. But the 

 fact is, the fore-leg of the other side leaves the ground 

 before the fore-leg which makes the long stride does, and 

 the same thing is true of the hind-legs. But the legs on 

 the side to which he has been bent pass the others in 

 their longer stride, and the horse is said to lead with 

 them. 



To put the horse into the gallop, leading with the off- 

 leg, let the rider bring him into equilibrium, then light- 

 ening the forehand, and particularly the right shoulder, 

 with a play of the direct rein, let him press in the left 

 heel. In consequence of these movements on his part, 

 the horse will take the gallop with the legs on the right 

 side making the larger strides ; for the right shoulder is 

 free to extend itself in answer to the propulsion of the 



