318 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



Port of the bit ; The arched part in the centre of the curb-bit. 



Resistances : See Defenses. 



Retroacting : A horse retroacts when, in his volts, he steps aside, 

 bearing his croup to the centre, also when he backs toward an ob- 

 stacle and fixedly remains there, against the will of his rider; and 

 also when he suddenly throws himself upon his hocks at the moment 

 his rider checks or stops him. 



Ring-bar of the saddle : A bar attached beneath the saddle-flap on 

 the left side and at its upper part, over which the stirrup-leather rolls. 



Saddle-tree : The skeleton or solid frame of a saddle, upon which 

 .the pommels, leather, padding, etc., are properly disposed. 



Snaffle-bit : Is the mildest bit used in driving a horse : there are two 

 kinds, the plain snaffle and the twisted, and the latter form may be 

 made to act very severely. 



Surcingle : A wide band of cloth or leather, of sufficient length to 

 pass around the body of a horse, and employed either to keep a blanket 

 upon him, or to keep down the flaps of the saddle or the shabrack. 



Thrown forward upon his shoulders : A horse is said to be thrown in 

 this manner when, in moving, he throws his weight chiefly upon his 

 shoulders and fore-legs instead of upon his hind-quarters ; he is then 

 also said to " go heavy on his fore-legs/' 



Turn upon the shoulders : A horse is said to " turn upon his shoul- 

 ders " when he throws his weight upon his fore-legs during the act of 

 turning ; it is a disunited movement. 



Tusks, also Tushes : These are the canine teeth, two in each jaw, 

 which grow between the grinders (back double teeth) and the incisors 

 (front cutting teeth), being closer to the latter than to the former. 

 They are frequently missing. Their uses are not well known. 



Volt : The movement of a horse while going sidewise in a circle, his 

 croup being toward the centre. There are several varieties of volt. 

 An inverted or reversed volt is when the head of the horse is kept 

 toward the centre of the circle. 



Well-bent hind-legs : A horse with straight hind-legs does not possess 

 good and easy movements ; but if these limbs be well bent, he can be 

 well placed on his haunches, and be easily collected, so that his action 

 will be true and pleasant. See Haunches. 



Yield the hands : Is to give the horse more rein by advancing the 

 hands without allowing the reins to slip. To give a free rein is to 

 allow the animal all the length of rein he requires without any traction 

 or opposition. 



