388 RIDING 



same lesson be practised as when on the snaffle. He will have 

 to be careful that in turning he does not feel the wrong rein, a 

 very common mistake. If he turns to the right, the little finger 

 of the left hand should work towards the right shoulder; if he 

 turns to the left it should work towards the left shoulder. He 

 should also be instructed not to have a dead pull on his horse's 

 mouth at any time, but to ease and feel the reins, and occasion- 

 ally draw the bridoon lightly across the horse's mouth, at the 

 same time closing the legs to him, so as to take the weight of 

 . the horse's head off the hand, if he is inclined to lean on it. 

 Some horses will not bear the slightest feeling of the bit on the 

 bars of the mouth, but these horses are not fit for a beginner ta 

 ride ; they are behind the hand, and require to be firmly ridden 

 for some time by an experienced rider 



LESSONS XXIV. AND XXV 



It is now time that the pupil should be taken out of doors, 

 but on the first few occasions it would be well to begin with a 

 short lesson in the school. The instructor should then mount 

 himself on a steady horse and ride with him on the near side. 

 A quiet road should be selected. The pupil may perhaps miss 

 having the four walls of the school round him and be a little 

 nervous, but will very soon get accustomed to his position, and 

 enjoy his ride outside more than in the school. He should be 

 made acquainted with the rule of the road, that is to say, that if 

 he meets another horse or vehicle he keeps to the left-hand 

 side, and that in passing anything that may be in front of him 

 he is to pass it on the right-hand side. If the lessons in the 

 school have given the rider as much control over the horse as 

 they should have done, he will not be much at a loss outside. 

 The pace at a trot should be steady, and he will find it much 

 easier to rise in his stirrups outside the school than in, as it will 

 be all straightforward work and no corners to put him out of it. 

 He should only be allowed to trot where the road is pretty level. 

 After about half an hour in the school and three-quarters out- 



