122 HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 



turn is to be made, should then get an extra pull, while 

 the horseman's foot on the other side should be drawn 

 back, and should be pressed hard against the animal's 

 ribs, so as to prevent his quarters from swinging round. 

 The object of these actions is to make the horse turn, 

 as much as possible, on his hind legs, in preference to 

 his fore, as the former are far more powerful than the 

 latter. Besides this, the natural equilibrium of the 

 horse's frame is disturbed by the rider's weight. During 

 the turn, the horseman should incline his body towards 

 the side to which he makes it. These precautions are 

 most necessary to prevent a horse from coming down, 

 when turning at a fast pace. For school purposes, 

 horses are taught to turn on their centre and on their 

 forehand, as well as on their hind quarters. 



Standing in the Stirrups. As the hind legs are 

 virtually the propellers, while the fore -legs are the sup- 

 porters of the body, horsemen assume the attitude of 

 standing in the stirrups in order to relieve the former 

 of weight, during the gallop or canter. 



The body should be slightly bent forwards, and should 

 be free from all stiffness, so that it may conform, to the 

 motion of the horse. The heels should be a trifle 

 depressed, and slightly drawn back. The seat should be 

 somewhat raised from the saddle not stuck out over the 

 cantle without any up and down movement. The weight 

 should be on the stirrups, and the balance should be 

 preserved by them, and by the hold the rider has on the 

 reins, while the knees, when the horse is not pulling, 

 should but lightly press against the flaps. By riding in 

 this manner the horse will be taught " to go up to his 



