104 MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 



Figure 32. Double rein held in left hand. The reins enter the hand 

 as follows: near snaffle beneath the little linger; near curb between little linger 

 and third ringer; off curb between second and third fingers; off snafflle between 

 foreringer and second finger. x\ll reins leave the hand between the thumb and 

 forefinger, bight falling to the off side. 



IN THE STABLES 



Before taking your liorses out, carefully examine them to make sure 

 that they are fit for work. 



1. Note whether their dro])ping"s are normal. 



2. See if their breathing is normal ; that is. quiet and without dis- 

 tended nostrils. 



3. Look them o^'er especially on the back and shoulders, to see that 

 there are no sores, lumps, or injuries to be rubbed and irritated by 

 harness or saddlery. 



4. See that they are not resting a fore leg, a sure indication that some- 

 thing is wrong with it. 



5. See if they have eaten their food, especially their grain. 



6. Clean out their feet ; see that there are no stones or nails in them ; 

 and see that their shoes are tight. A loose shoe greatly increases the 

 concussion on the foot. 



7. See if your horses go lame on leading them out. Give your horses 

 an opportunity to drink before leaving the picket line or stable and 

 before putting the bit in their mouth. 



TO PUT ON AND TAKE OFF THE BIT AND CURB BRIDLE 



Simple Hints: A simple way to learn to i)Ut the CURB CHAIN on 

 correctly is: Take hold of the end link with the forefinger and thumb 

 of right hand and twist it round, from left to right, as if driving in a 

 screw, until it is flat; then place the end link on the hook THUMB 

 NAIL UP; slide the thumb down the chain, and after shaking free, 

 say, three links, place the fourth link on the hook THl^iNIB NAIL 

 DOWN. You will never go n rong if you accustom yourself to this 

 simple hint. 



If the BIT touches the corner of the horse's mouth it is about right. 

 Great care should be taken that the THROAT-LATCH is not ' too 

 tight ; it is common to find it too tight (because it is generally tighter 

 when the horse is tied U]5 than when in draft) ; the proper fitting is laid 

 down above. A horse can't work properly with a tight strap round his 

 throat any more than a driver can work with a tight collar. 



Don't have the curb chain tight ; horses dislike it and often will not 

 start because the curb chain is too tight. Very few liorses really need 

 a curb chain ; it upsets them and many are not used to it at all. Should 

 allow two fingers breadth-palm down. 



At the discretion of the instructor, the halter may be taken ofif before 

 bridling, the reins being first passed over the neck ; the hitching strap, 

 if not left at the manger or picket line, is tied around the horse's neck; 

 if the horse be saddled, in the near pommel ring. 



