92 Aids and Defences. 



contrary to the will of his rider, or when he leaps, 

 kicks, or plunges. If a horse rear, the rider 

 should lean forward more than in the aid for the 

 advance : but care must be taken, in this case, to 

 perform the defence with discretion, especially 

 with a pony, or gallaway ; for, should the animal 

 rise suddenly, and the rider throw herself abruptly 

 forward, it is not improbable that he might give 

 her a violent blow on the face with the top of his 

 head. 



We have already mentioned, in a previous part 

 of our treatise, the direction which the body 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 properly performed, will carry with 

 it the aid of the hand, the leg, and even the whip, 

 if it be held near the horse's side. We will ex- 

 plain 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 



