The Lady and Her Horse / Being Hints Selected from Various Sources and Compiled into a System of Equitation

by T. A. Jenkins

To advance.—The lady should call the attention of the horse, by an increased bearing upon the reins, and at the same time should animate him, by closing the leg, and using the whip gently on the right flank; having communicated a sufficient impulse to the horse, to carry him forward, she should at the same moment, by turning up the back of her hand, ease the pressure upon the reins, and prevent him to move forward: but she should not slacken the reins, because by doing so, the horse’s head and neck may relapse into a position, which the hand cannot control.

To turn the horse, Colonel Greenwood in his book of “Hints on Horsemanship” observes, “When you wish to turn to the right, pull the right rein stronger than the left; this is common sense—the common error is, when you wish to turn to the right, to pass the hand to the right, by which the right rein is slackened, and the left rein tightened, across the horse’s neck; and the horse is required to turn to the right, when the left rein is pulled.”

To turn to the right.—The hand, holding the reins the proper length, and having a correct appui or feeling of the horse’s mouth, must not be moved from its position, in a line with the crest; but the tightening of the rein, must be effected, by turning the wrist; the little finger, with the first joint pressing against the rein, is raised, and turned towards the right shoulder; thus giving a double feeling, or pressure upon the right rein, and turning the horse’s head in the desired direction, the pressure of the left rein against the neck, which follows, induces the horse to turn to the right. Or the right hand may be placed upon the right rein, to tighten it. The pressure with the left leg, should at the same time be increased, to prevent the horse from throwing his hind quarters too much outwards, or to the left. The rider’s body should incline inwards, and face the direction turning to. If the whip be used, it should be applied upon the left shoulder, with a continued pressure, till the turn has been completed.

To turn to the left.—The lady should increase the bearing upon the left rein, by turning the back of her hand downwards, so as to bring the little finger towards the left shoulder; at the same time, she should apply the whip to the horse’s right flank, to make him collect himself, and to prevent him, from throwing his hind-quarters too much to the right; when the horse has completed the turn, the bearing and pressure should be equalized, to induce the horse to move straight forward.

The horse, when at a stop, may be made to turn quite round by making him move his hind-quarters only.

To circle the horse to the right, on his fore-hand.—The lady should apply her leg, to the horse’s side, as far back as she can; to induce him to step to the right, with his hind legs; at the same time, she must increase the bearing upon the left rein; if the horse does not readily obey the pressure of the foot, she may pass her hand behind her waist, and touch the horse with the whip gently on his left flank.

To circle the horse to the left, on the forehand.—The lady should apply the whip gently to the horse’s right flank, to induce him to step to the left, she should have a double bearing upon the right rein, and she should at the same time press her foot against the horse’s side, as far forward as she can, to oppose the movement of the fore-legs.

The horse can be made to turn on his hind legs, by the movement only of his fore-hand. The lady to turn the horse to the right, must apply her leg as far back as possible, to keep the horse’s haunches steady; at the same time, she should with the bit, bend the horse’s head a little to the right, to induce him to step with his fore-feet to the right. If necessary, the whip may be used, by gentle touches upon the left shoulder.

To turn on the haunches to the left.—The lady must press her whip on the horse’s right flank, and her leg, against his side as far forward as possible, at the same time, she should communicate an impulse to the horse, to step to the left, to turn the horse quite round when in movement; the lady should first bring her horse to a momentary stop, and then proceed to turn him.