AIDS AND DEFENCES. 53 



We have already mentioned, in a previous part of 

 our treatise, the direction which the hody should take 

 when riding in a circle, turning a corner, or acting as 

 a defence against the danger attendant upon a horse's 

 shying. In the first case, the aid of the body, if pro- 

 perly performed, will carry with it the aid of the hand, 

 the leg, and even the whip, if it he held near the horse's 

 side. We will explain this by an example : — Suppose 

 the rider wishes to turn a corner on her left ; she 

 inclines a little towards it, drawing her left shoulder 

 in, and thrusting her right shoulder rather forward : the 

 bridle-hand will thus be drawn back on the near side, 

 the off rein will consequently act on the horse's neck, 

 and the left leg be pressed close against the near side ; 

 so that all the necessary aids for effecting her object, 

 are performed by one natural and easy movement. 



The aids of the whip, on one side, correspond with 

 those of the leg, on the other : they are not only used 

 in the manner we have already mentioned, when the 

 rider wishes her horse to advance, or increase his pace, 

 but also in clearing a corner, &c. If the lady be desi- 

 rous of turning to the left, she may materially aid the 

 operation of the hand, which directs the fore-parts of 

 the horse to the near side, by pressing him with her 

 stirrup leg, so as to throw his croup in some degree to 

 the right, and thereby place it in a more proper position 

 to follow the direction of his shoulders. In turning to 

 the right, the whip may be made equally useful by 



