TURNING HORSE ON FOREHAND. 229 



of both whips on the sides or hind legs. At this stage of 

 the breaking, I think it is well to defer all further instruc- 

 tion in the aids, until the turn on the forehand has been 

 taught ; for it is the quickest and most precise means by 

 which to teach the horse the. indications given by the rider's 

 legs, which instruction should now be our chief object, so 

 that our pupil may answer the leg as readily as he has 

 already learned to do the rein. If we continue to ride him 

 without special instruction in leg work, we can hardly 

 fail to get him into the vile habit of depending almost 

 entirely on the reins for guidance. I may here point out 

 that precision in turning can be obtained only by acting on 

 both ends of his body, namely, on his hind-quarters, as 

 well as on his mouth. 



Turning a horse on the forehand at the halt when 

 mounted. — Having, on foot, taught the horse to make this 

 turn, we shall have little difficulty in doing so when mounted ; 

 and may commence by taking a rein and whip in each hand 

 (see Figs. 105 and 106). If we wish to make the turn on the 

 forehand to the right (see page 208), we should depress the 

 right hand and keep it well away from the shoulder, so as 

 to give the indication of pulling the head round as clearly 

 as possible. As the flexibility of the neck increases ac- 

 cording to its distance from the withers ; the left hand, 

 which holds the left rein, should be carried somewhat to 

 the right and raised, so as to aid in preserving the bend 

 of the neck. We should lean a little forward in the 

 saddle in order to lighten the hind-quarters, and a little to 

 the right so as to help in fixing the off-fore. We should 



