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HAND-BOOK FOR HORSEWOMEN. 



teacher will explain succinctly the mechanism of 

 locomotion. 



The horse at rest is said to be square on his base 

 when his four legs are perpendicular between two 

 parallels, one being the horizontal line of the ground, 

 the other the corresponding line of his back. If his 

 hind legs are outside of this square, he is said to be 

 " campe," or planted, because he can neither move 

 forward nor back unless he changes this position. 

 If his fore legs are outside this line, he is " campe " 

 in front, as, for instance, when kicking; if, on the 

 contrary, his fore legs are inside his base, he is said 

 to be *' under himself " in front ; and it is a bad sign 

 when a horse takes this position habitually, as it 

 shows fatigue or weakness in those limbs. 



The horse goes forward, backward, trots or gal- 

 lops, by a contraction of the muscles of the hind 

 quarters, the duty of the fore legs being to support 

 his weight and get out of the way of the hind ones ; 

 and the whole art of riding consists in a knowledge of 

 the means which give the rider control of these mus- 

 cular contractions of the hind quarters. The appli- 

 cation of the left leg and of the whip on the sides of 

 the horse serve to make him go forward, backward, 

 to the right or left, and the reins serve to guide and 

 support him, and also to indicate the movement re- 

 quired by the whip and leg. 



I. Prepare to turn to the right. — 2. Turn to the right. 



To turn her horse to the right, the pupil should 

 draw her right hand back and to the right, incline 



