74 ORDINARY RIDING. 



2nd. Action of the curb ; the httle finger brought towards- 

 the body (Fig. 17). 



3rd. Action of the snaffle ; the thumb brought towards 

 the body (Fig. 18). 



4th. Action of the off curb rein ; the knuckles lowered 

 (Fig. 19). 



5 th. Action of the near curb rein ; the knuckles raised 

 (Fig. 20). 



We can obtain all the necessary effects on the mouth of the 

 horse by the rotation of the wrist from rear to front (Fig. 17) ; 

 from front to rear (Fig. 18) ; from left to right, i.e., prona- 

 tion (Fig. 19) ; and from right to left, i.e., supination (Fig. 20). 



When the reins are held in this manner, they are kept 

 apart as far as possible, supposing that they are in one hand. 

 The effect obtained is almost similar to that which would be 

 produced if the reins of the curb were held in the left hand 

 and the snaffle reins in the right hand, a little above them. 

 We can easily, if required, use both hands ; because the right 

 hand can take up the snaffle reins or put them back into the 

 left hand without disarranging or even touching the curb 

 reins (Fig. 21). 



Finally, if we wish to have all four reins separated, namely, 

 the near ones of the curb and snaffle in the left hand, and the 

 off ones in the right hand (which is often necessary), we have 

 only to take the off reins in the position in which they are, by 

 placing the right hand between the reins of the curb and 

 those of the snaffle in such a manner that the off rein of the 

 curb will come under the little finger of the right hand, and 

 the off rein of the snaffle between the thumb and index finger 

 of the same hand, in exactly the same position as the reins 

 are in the left hand.* We thus keep in the two hands the 



*Fig. 22 shows the right hand being passed between the off rein of the curb 

 and the off rein of the snaffle, and Fig. 23 shows the right hand being closed 

 on these two reins. Fig. 24 shows the reins separated. 



