316 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



Force the hands : The hands are said to be forced when the horse 

 throws his head downward, pulling upon the reins so as to cause the 

 rider to support the weight of the animal's head; sometimes this is 

 effected so suddenly as to jerk the reins out of her hands. 



Forehand : All that part of the horse in front of the rider. 



Get out of condition : A horse is said to be in " good condition " when 

 he is well, fresh, and sound ; the reverse of this is termed " out of con- 

 dition." 



Girths: Stout straps or bands passed from one side of the saddle 

 and underneath the horse's abdomen to the other side, where they are 

 buckled tight and fast ; they are designed to keep the saddle securely 

 upon the horse's back. 



Give and take : The traction and relaxation of the reins made by the 

 fingers, and which must correspond with the movements of the horse's 

 head ; this action keeps up a correspondence with the .horse's mouth, 

 and at the same time supports him in his gait. 



Hand : The height of a horse is usually measured by hands, four 

 inches being equal to one hand. A rider is said to "have hands" 

 when she knows how to use her hands correctly in controlling the 

 horse by means of the reins. 



Haunches : When a horse is made to throw his weight chiefly upon 

 his hind-quarters, he is said to be " well placed on his haunches," and 

 will then move more lightly upon his fore-legs. The haunch-bones are 

 three in number, the superior one of which is firmly united to the 

 spinal column (backbone) near its posterior extremity ; the lower one 

 on each side forms a joint with the thigh bone, passing downward in a 

 more or less oblique direction. The obliquity of these bones enables 

 the horse to place the muscles of the part in a position to act with 

 greater advantage and power, and the degree of this obliquity serves 

 to distinguish the thorough from the low bred, it being greater in the 

 former. Wide haunches and broad loins are indications of strength 

 and speed. 



Hippie : Of, belonging- to, or relating to the horse. 



Hock, also Tarsus : The part or joint between the cannon or shank 

 bone and the lower thigh or gaskin of the hind-leg : it consists of six 

 bones; the part at this joint that projects backward and somewhat 

 inward is called the " point of the hock." The hock is an important 

 part of a horse, as any unhealthy or diseased condition of it will pre- 

 vent him from resting on his haunches, and will thereby interfere with 

 his free action in the canter and gallop. 



