ACTION OF DRAWN-BACK LEG. 237 



left hand a little higher than the right (so as to bring the 

 left rein against the more flexible part of the neck), should 

 carry it across the body, so as to obtain the desired pressure 

 against the neck. We find from experience that a horse 

 will turn best, other things being equal, when the reins are 

 manipulated in the manner I have pointed out, and when 

 their tension is the same on both sides of the mouthpiece, 

 which, under this condition, will have no tendency to be 

 pulled through the mouth, as might occur if one rein were 

 tight and the other slack. 



In referring here to the application of the drawn-back 

 outward leg when turning the horse, I take for granted 

 that the turn is made under ordinary conditions. If, how- 

 ever, the animal refuses to bring round his hind-quarters — 

 as he does when he '* runs out " at a fence, while we are 

 doing our best to " straighten " him — we ought, instead of 

 using the outward (the left, if the turn be to the right) 

 leg, to apply the drawn-back inward leg, or the whip. 

 It is evident that the more the leg is drawn back (see 

 Fig. 108), the more effective will its application be in 

 bringing round the hind-quarters, or in checking their move- 

 ment in the direction of the applied leg. In Cavalry Drill, 

 which is the text-book of our military riding-schools, the 

 application of the leg is referred to as '' a stronger pressure 

 of the inward [or outward] leg ; " the utility of drawing 

 back the foot being apparently ignored. I may point out 

 that while sitting " square " in the saddle, which is impera- 

 tive in military equitation, it is impossible to exercise, to 

 any appreciable extent, a stronger pressure against the 

 horse's side with one leg than with the other, owing to the 



