102 



MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 



TO PUT ON AND TAKE OFF THE BIT AND CURB BRIDLE 



Before bridling, the curb chain is unhooked on the near side. The 

 instructor commands : BRIDLE. 



Take the reins in the right, the crownpiece in the left hand; approach 

 the horse on the near side, passing the right hand along his neck; slip 

 both reins over his ears and let them rest on his neck ; take the crown- 

 piece in the right hand and the lower left branch of the curb bit in the 

 left hand, the forefinger against the mouthpiece, the snaffle bit above 

 and resting on the mouthpiece of the curb bit; bring the crownpiece in 

 front of and slightly below its proper position ; insert the thumb into 

 the side of the mouth above the tush ; press open the lower jaw and 

 insert the bits by raising the crownpiece ; with the left hand draw the 

 ears gently under the crownpiece, beginning with the left ear; arrange 

 the forelock, secure the throat-latch, and hook up the curb chain on the 

 near side below the snaffle bit. The throat-latch should admit four 

 fingers between it and the throat. 



Reins and Bridle 



Figure 26. Method 

 of supporting the bit 

 in bridHng and unbrid- 

 ling. This will prevent 

 tlie bit from striking 

 against the tushes. 



Figures 27-32. Meth- 

 ods of holding reins of 

 single and double bridle 

 in either or both hands. 



Fig. 27. Single reins 

 held in right hand. Ofif 

 rein enters beneath lit- 

 tle linger, near rein, 

 between little finger 

 and third finger. Both 

 reins leave the hand be- 

 tween the thumb and 

 forefinger. Bight falls 

 to near side. 



Figure 29. Single reins held in both hands. Each rein enters the hand 

 beneath little finger and comes out between the thumb and forefinger. Bight 

 falls to the ofif side. 



Figure 31. Single reins held in left hand. Near rein enters the hand be- 

 neath little finger, ofif rein between the little finger and third finger. Both 

 reins leave the hand between the thumb and forefinger. Bight falls to the 

 ofif side. 



Figure 28. Double reins held in right hand. The reins enter the hand as 

 follows: Ofif snafifle beneath little finger; off curb between little finger and third 

 finger; near curb between second and third fingers: near snafifle between 

 forefinger and second finger. All reins leave the hand between the thumb and 

 forefinger, bight falling to the near side. 



Figure 30. Double reins held in both hands. The reins enter the hands 

 as follows: curb beneath the little finger; snafifle between the little finger and 

 third finger, both reins leave the hands between the thumb and forefinger, 

 bight falling to the ofif side. 



