n 6 RIDING 



possible intentions, will keep a horse that does not exactly 

 please them in some particular part of a lesson at the same 

 thing until he gets sick and tired of it and refuses. In 

 most cases the man then loses his temper also. There is a 

 fight, and the rider at such a time does not always get the best 

 of it ; whereas by not wearying the horse with repetitions of 

 the same thing until his patience and perhaps his strength were 

 exhausted, the rider would in all probability have got what he 

 wanted next time of asking. Riding on the bit alone should 

 not be attempted until the horse acquits himself satisfactorily 

 on all four reins, and then only by a very good horseman who 

 has a perfectly independent seat and light hands. Even such 

 a rider as this should, in all turns, for some time use his inward 

 bridoon rein, to lead his horse's forehand into the required new 

 direction. There are differences of opinion as to the best way 

 of holding the reins when riding on the bit alone, but probably 

 there is no better way than that which is practised in the Cavalry, 

 that is, the little finger of the left hand between the reins, which 

 are brought through the full of the hand and laid over the fore- 

 finger, and the thumb closed on them, the bridoon rein being 

 also through the full of the hand at full length equally divided 

 and laid over the forefinger also, but with the thumb on 

 the bit reins only. The right hand should be always ready to 

 assist with the bridoon rein on either side as may be required. 

 This style of riding should only be practised for military purposes 

 on a well broken charger, where the rider must have his right hand 

 at liberty for the use of his weapon, or on a well broken hack for 

 park riding; but for all ordinary purposes horses should be ridden 

 on all four reins. The rider by this method keeps his horse's 

 mouth fresher, and horses as a general rule go better up to their 

 bridles than when ridden on the bit only ; besides, unless the 

 horse be very well broken, and the rider thoroughly accustomed 

 to ride on the bit, he is very liable, unless he uses the bridoon to 

 help him, to try to turn his horse on the wrong rein, which is 

 not calculated to improve either his mouth or his temper. 



There are any number of bits in use of different patterns, 



