MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 125 



203. The direct rein: When the trooper, with the hands sep- 

 arated and the reins adjusted, closes his fingers upon the reins 

 without raising the hands he exercises an action from front to 

 rear, called the effect of the direct reins. This effect, when on 

 one rein only, is called that of the right (or left) direct rein. 



204. The leading rein: When the trooper carries the right 

 hand to the right and forward in a manner to preserve contact 

 but not to increase pressure on the bit the effect is called that 

 of the right leading rein. 



The back of the hand should remain vertical, the wrist in 

 prolongation of the forearm, the elbow remaining near the 

 body. 



The horse's head and neck are drawn to the right, the shoul- 

 ders follow, and he turns to the right. 



205. The bearing rein: When the trooper carries the right 

 hand forward, upward, and to the left in a manner to pre- 

 serve contact, but not to increase pressure on the bit, the 

 effect is said to be that of the right bearing rein. 



The back of the hand should remain vertical, the wrist in 

 prolongation of the forearm. 



The horse's head is turned slightly to the right, but the 

 effect is to the left; the neck bends and is convex to the left 

 and is followed by the shoulders. The horse turns to the left. 



The action of the bearing rein is much more powerful than 

 that of the leading rein, and is used to the exclusion of the 

 latter to turn the horse when riding with the reins in one 

 hand. 



206. The indirect rein of opposition: When the trooper car- 

 ries the right hand to the left in a manner to press the shoul- 

 ders to the left and to produce a diagonal traction on the rein 

 in the direction of the left shoulder or haunch the effect is 

 called that of- the right indirect rein of opposition. 



Its effect may be produced in front of the withers if the 

 hand be slightly raised ; in rear of the withers if the hand be 

 slightly lowered. It is frequently used by the trooper when 

 riding with one hand (as he must do in order to use his « 

 weapons), and its effect should be studied and practiced from 

 the beginning. 



207. Manner of applying the aids: The action of the reins 

 and legs and weight should not be continuous. The trooper 



