274 THE COMPLETE HORSEMAN 



of some new movement the other hand or leg or 

 both should retain their proper place, otherwise 

 the horse is uncollected in his action — or a phrase 

 I like better, the balance is destroyed — and more 

 or less of a failure results. 



Bending is a necessary preliminary to turn- 

 ing on the forehand and on the croup. The horse 

 should be halted and his head gently bent to the 

 left or right as may be desired. Supposing it is 

 wanted to bend him to the right the right rein 

 should be gently pulled, whilst a touch is still 

 kept on the left rein, both legs being pressed to 

 his sides to prevent him running back or stand- 

 ing on three legs. The idea is for the horse to 

 stand perfectly square, as he was doing before 

 the movement was attempted. The bend of the 

 neck should be from the poll, just behind the 

 ears. 



When man and horse can do this without 

 trouble they may begin with turning on the fore- 

 hand which is simpler than turning on the croup. 

 In order to do this when riding round the school 

 to the right the horse should be halted and after 

 he has stood still a short time — less than a minute 

 is quite long enough — operations may be com- 

 menced in this way. The horse's forehand should 

 be restrained by the right rein which should be 

 held low and the pressure of the left leg should 

 send the croup round step by step till the circle 

 is complete. It is however advisable when 

 executing this movement to rest the horse for 

 half a minute when the circle is half completed. 



