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The riders -weight should be kept in perfect balance with the horse, 

 by inclining toward the inside of the turn. 



Seen from birdseye view, the horse, from head to tail should be 

 bent throughout as the line, on which it turns. 



IDEAL. ACTUAL. 



CURVES OF HORSES BODY DURING TURN. 



The various functions and results of the aids are best demonstrated 

 to the pupil, when the horse is at a standstill, and we will begin this by 

 demonstrating first the guidance of the forehand. 



The position of the riders hands as we have already said, should be 

 vertical and close together, so as to enclose and steady the horse's neck 

 in its lower parts, between the two reins. The distance at which the 

 hands are held from the riders body, depends entirely upon the position 

 of the horse's head and neck, and should be such, that the horse can be 

 controlled and brought to a standstill, without compelling the hands to 

 move backward or past the riders sides. If a horse carried its neck 

 low and the head and neck fully outstretched it will be necessary that 

 the rider should hold the reins so short that a sudden raising of the 

 neck and bending in of the head, will not find him unprepared and 'with 

 his hands at his hips, but if the horse's neck is originally well elevated 

 and the head drawn in the vertical position, the hands may be carried 

 within four or six inches of the body and the tightening of the reins, by 

 simply closing the hand more firmly and a slight downward bend of the 

 wrist, will suffice to stop the horse. 



The carriage of the horse is of great importance for the equilibrium 

 of its body and consequently for the safety of the rider. A correct 

 position aids in balancing the horse and facilitates the management of 

 the same, 



Experiments made by General Morris of the Imperial French Caval- 

 ry, aided by the well known master and author Baucher and the veter- 

 inarian Bellanger, very clearly demonstrate the distribution of weight 

 in the horse's body in different positions as follows: 



Two platform scales are used for the purpose and placed closely 

 together ; the front legs of the horse are placed on one, the hind legs on 

 the other scale so that the diagonals drawn from the right front leg to 

 the left hind leg and from the left front leg to the right hind leg, cross 

 just above the division between the scales. 



