On small circles or sudden turns of direction a horse is liable to fall if not leading correctly.
The Right Lead.—To require a horse to lead to the right, the aids are:
1. Weight of the body to the left, weight in left stirrup in order to weight down the left haunch.
2. Use of the left leg to cause the haunches to be displaced to the right consequently requiring the right lateral to pass the left.
3. Use the right leg to join its action to that of the left to give the necessary impulsion and to receive the haunches and prevent their being moved too far to the right.
The horse being driven by the legs up into the bit, is received by the reins in the following manner:
4. Right rein of support exerted in a direction toward the left shoulder to weight the latter, for it must be slowed down; at the same time this movement frees the right shoulder and allows it to extend itself. The horse is made to slightly turn the head to the right at the poll in order that he may see in the direction in which he is going.[1]
5. Left direct rein corroborates the action of the right and keeps the neck straight. (De Saint-Phalle.)