VII 



DISTRIBUTION OF THE RIDER'S WEIGHT 



" The Tartars have in all ages been famous under different names 

 for their love of horses, and skill in riding. It is a practice with 

 them, says an author, ... to tye the reins of their bridles to their 

 girdles, and by the motions of their bodies alone to govern and direct 

 their horses; putting them into different attitudes, and making them 

 perform a variety of evolutions." Berenger. 



'T^HE rider can help, hinder, or assume a neutral 

 attitude towards the movements of his horse, 

 by poising the upper part of the body so as to bring 

 more weight to bear on a particular leg or legs, or 

 by taking the weight of it off them. This is an aid 

 which is not very generally understood, and is ex- 

 tremely valuable, as it is not dependent on the sensi- 

 tiveness of the horse's mouth or sides. 



When there is no weight on the horse's back he 

 can be taught to move in any particular way through 

 the medium of signs given by the reins, or by the 

 whip and voice. It does not at all follow that the 



same indications will make different horses do the 



8i 



