44 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 



ward by the strongest. Now, as in the case of a lady, there is no 

 right leg to support the horse, in turning, he is liable to lean upon 

 the hand ; the rider should close the left leg firmly, and touch him 

 lightly on the off-side with her whip, which will at once cause him 

 to keep his forehand up and his haunches under him. After being 

 once or twice so corrected he will turn carefully, without hurry or 

 coming on his shoulder. 



The pupil should then be taught to turn her horse right and left 

 about in the centre of the manege^ the aids being simply continued 

 until the animal faces the reverse way, the pupil turning her 

 horse upon his centre in the middle of the manege^ instead of his 

 haunches, as at the side. Plenty of practice should be given in 

 making these turns, because Jt»y them the pupil learns to bring up 

 the right or left shoulder according to the hand turned to, the 

 right shoulder in turning to the left, and vice versa ; and this should 

 be most carefully attended to by the master, otherwise the body of 

 the pupil is moving on one line and the horse on another, and in 

 case of his flirting the pupil is already half-way out of her saddle. 

 Too much attention therefore cannot be given to this vital point in 

 the aplomb for this obvious reason — if a lady once acquires the 

 habit (which unfortunately too many do) of allowing the horse to 

 turn without " going with him," it is quite on the cards that some 

 day a horse, a trifle too fresh, may jump round with her. If the 

 above principle of " going " with the horse has been thoroughly 

 well taught her in her early lessons she will have no difficulty in 

 accompanying the action of the horse, if she even fail in checking 

 it ; but if she is permitted so to sit as to be looking over her horse's 

 left ear when she turns him to the right, she is leaving the question 

 of her seat entirely to the generosity of the steed. And it may be 

 as well to say at once that, with the best intentioned, broken, or 

 mannered horse, it may be laid down as a golden rule in riding to 

 leave nothing to his generosity. Horses are very keen in their percep- 

 tions, and can detect in a manner little suspected by the inexperienced 

 when they have one at a disadvant;»ge. 



Reining back may be practised from time to time. To do this 

 well, again clearly defined instructions should be given. First the 



