BEAT, in the manège. A horse is said to beat the dust, when at each stroke or motion he does not take in ground or way enough with his fore-legs.—He is more particularly said to beat the dust at terra à terra, when he does not take in ground enough with his shoulders, making his strokes or motions too short, as if he made them all in one place. He beats the dust at curvets, when he does them too precipitantly and too low. He beats upon a walk, when he walks too short, and thus rids but little ground, whether it be in straight lines, rounds, or passings.