34 HORSEMANSHIP. 



Management of the rei?is. — I have described, at the 

 beginning of this chapter, how the reins ought to be 

 held, and the position of the hands, on page 23, The 

 rider ought, at all times, to give the horse the indication 

 of his wishes in the clearest possible manner. If he 

 wants him to go to the right, he should pull the right 

 rein ; if to the left, the left rein. In military riding 

 (see page 7), the reins being held in one hand, the 

 little finger separating them, it is impossible for this 

 direct indication to be given, for do what the trooper 

 will, he can shorten the near rein only to an extent 

 equal to the thickness of his little finger, say three- 

 quarters of an Inch, which It would be absurd to suppose 

 would be sufficient to oblige the horse to turn his head 

 round to the left, while the right rein cannot be 

 shortened at all. Hence, the pressure of the reins on 

 the neck has to be used as an indication for turning. 

 Thus, If the cavalryman wants his horse to go to the 

 right, he presses the near rein on the near side of the 

 neck, and vice versa. His horse, if well trained, will 

 obey this reversed (if I may use the expression) 

 indication in an admirable manner, even in the excite- 

 ment of "action." A high-spirited, generous-going horse, 

 however, bitted and trained in the best possible manner 



