72 ORDINARY RIDING. 



HOW TO HOLD THE REINS. 



There are three orthodox ways for holding the reins, 

 namely, the English, German, and Frencli. I do not hesitate 

 to say that the French way is the best. 



As the snaffle is higher in the mouth than the curb, its 

 principal action is to raise the head of the horse, and that of 

 the curb to lower it. In other words, the snaffle is an 

 elevator ; the curb, a depressor. Therefore, the reins should 

 occupy the same respective positions in the hand, as the 

 snaffle and curb do in the mouth, namely, the snaffle reins 

 should be above the curb reins. 



Contrary to this very simple principle, the English place 

 both reins at the same height in the hand and hold one rein 

 between each finger. The Germans act in a still more con- 

 trary way to the principle in question, by holding the snaffle 

 reins below the curb reins, supposing that the hand is in 

 a vertical position. It appears that the Germans have even 

 less common sense than the English. 



Reason tells us that the reins should be held in the French 

 manner ;* the hand vertical, the left curb rein under the little 

 finger of the left hand ; the right rein between the ring finger 

 and the middle finger, while their ends pass between the 

 thumb and index finger. The two reins of the snaffle are 

 joined in the same hand, and taken between the thumb and 

 index finger (Fig. i6). With the reins held in this manner 

 and without displacing the hand, we are able, by the mere 

 play of the wrist, to obtain the movements which are indis- 

 pensable for acting on the mouth ; supposing, of course, that 

 the animal is broken. 



1st. The hand placed in position exerts an equal tension 

 on all four reins (Fig. i6). 



• Is it not strange that in the French army the (icrnian metliod of holding the 

 reins is adt)ptecl, namely, the snaffle rein under the curb rein ? 



