The Legs. 49 



degree of the same awkwardness may often be 

 remarked on the road, when it becomes neces- 

 sary to open a gate or to pass an object of 

 which the horse is afraid. 



This is very readily explained. An active 

 horse can, as every horseman knows, change 

 the direction in which he is going, without 

 either slackening his pace or turning his head, 

 by simply carrying his hind quarters to the 

 right or left, and working sideways instead of 

 straight forwards. An active horse can there- 

 fore proceed in a direction contrary to his 

 rider's will, without resisting his rider's hand. 

 In other words, no rider has complete com- 

 mand of his horse until he has learnt to regu- 

 late the movements of his hind quarters as 

 well as to handle his mouth. This can only 

 be done by the judicious use of the legs or 

 spurs. 



A well-broken horse whose flank is struck 

 or pressed will instinctively endeavour to with- 

 draw himself from the contact. This is the 

 obvious principle upon which the horse's hind 

 quarters are controlled by the rider's legs. 

 When the rider closes both legs to his horse's 

 flanks, the horse will instinctively move forward 



