TURNING. 117 



turn really quickly, and to go in the opposite direction, 

 the pony must be stopped dead, swung round on his 

 hocks and started again at full gallop from the halt. 

 It must be remembered that to turn on the hocks, a 

 halt must be made, if only for the fraction of a second. 



To turn to the right, take the reins in both hands, 

 gently feel the right rein, press the left rein on the 

 side of the neck, and apply the drawn back left leg 

 behind the girth. For the left turn, the reversed aids 

 are to be applied. 



By making the pony describe circles gradually 

 decreasing in size, we may get him to turn on his 

 centre. We may then take the reins in the left hand, 

 and make him go through the same movements by 

 simply pressing the right rein on the right side of the 

 neck, if we wish him to turn to the left ; and the left 

 rein on the left side of the neck, if we wish him to 

 turn to the right. At first, the drawn-back outward 

 leg should be applied as before described ; but this 

 pressure may be gradually withdrawn, according as the 

 pony learns to turn in equally good form, by the simple 

 pressure of the rein on the neck, which is technically 

 called " the weight of the rein on the neck." 



The right leg is '' the outward leg " in the turn or 

 circle to the left ; and the " inw^ard leg" in a turn or 

 circle to the right. 



The object of the pressure of the outward leg in 

 turning or circling, is to prevent the animal's hind 

 quarters swinging round, which they are inclined to do, 

 owing to the fact that the fore legs bear more weight 

 than the hind ones, especially at fast paces — another 

 reason why ponies are apt to turn on the forehand 

 instead of on the hocks. 



