Crossword Genius

Directed a horse without hesitation (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

steered

'directed' is the definition.
(steering is a kind of directing)

'a horse without hesitation' is the wordplay.
'a horse' becomes 'steed' (steed is a kind of horse).
'without' means one lot of letters goes inside another ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'hesitation' becomes 'er' (sound made while hesitating - um, er).
'steed' placed around 'er' is 'STEERED'.

(Other definitions for steered that I've seen before include "Guided a vehicle" , "Went on a course" , "Guided or directed, ship or plane" , "given the push" , "taken the helm" .)

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