HO IV TO HOLD THE REINS. 



advantage ; and can freely " give and take " to the 

 movements of the horse's head. 



When both hands are used, the off rein is taken up 

 between the third and little fingers of the right hand, 



Fig. 3. 



while the "slack" of the near rein passes between its 

 first finger and thumb. Both hands will now have 

 exactly the same hold on the reins. 



To shortejt the reins, when they are held in both hands, 

 and when the horse is not pulling hard, the hands may 

 be simply drawn apart, while the hold of the first, second 

 and third fingers of the hands on their respective reins is 

 loosened, and that of the little fingers is tightened on the 

 free part of the reins, which action will naturally cause 

 the hands to slide forward. When the proper length is 

 obtained, the first, second and third fingers of each hand 

 should close on their respective reins. The hands should 



B 2 



