Distribution of the Rider's Weight 83 



In the light of the above paragraph it is easy to 

 understand how the horse is helped in turning if 

 the rider poises his body so as to weight the leg the 

 horse uses as a pivot. For example, in turning on 

 the quarters to the right, the body should be leant 

 back and to the right. Conversely, it helps the horse 

 if we lighten the leg he wishes to strike off with at 

 a canter. The French, Austrians, and Italians do so 

 in the following manner : for commencing the canter 

 on a straight line with, say, the off fore-leg leading, 

 the man rests his weight on his left buttock, at the 

 same time leaning slightly back, thus making it 

 easier for the horse to move the desired leg. 



When cantering on a small circle the horse 

 naturally moves with his inward leg leading, either 

 with or without a man on his back. If he is being 

 longed with a single rein and cavesson and is going 

 unwillingly — that is to say with a pull on the rein — 

 his head will be brought in and his outward shoulder 

 will be forward; this may make him lead with the 

 outward leg, but it cannot be taken as a test, as his 

 hind-legs will be working on a larger circumference 

 than his fore-legs : in fact, the horse is not moving 

 on a true circle at all. 



