THE WALK. 63 



with admirable precision and equality of hand ; or who, on 

 the exercise ground, would place the broken charger on his 

 haunches, and make him walk four miles an hour, canter six 

 and a half, trot eight and a half, and gallop eleven, without 

 being out in either pace a second of time — but who have 

 marred all by the besetting sin of side-feeling, of turning 

 the horse on the wrong rein. The consequence is, that 

 they can ride nothing which has not been trained to answer 

 wrong indications. 



When .riding with one hand on a double bridle, it is ex- 

 pedient that each rein should lie 

 between two fingers. This is not 

 the rule, but it has two advantages ; 

 the one, that all the inner sensitive 

 surfaces are exposed to the sense 

 of touch, the other, that a much 



stronger hold is obtained. If the bit reins be divided by 

 the third in lieu of the little finger, the reins will then be 

 properly divided, and the hand more alive to the feel of 

 the horse's mouth. The reins, therefore, should enter the 

 left hand in this order: The right bridoon uppermost, 

 between the index and second finger, the right bit between 

 second and third, the left bit between third and little, and 

 left bridoon under the little finger. The mass of spare rein, 

 brought up through the hollow of the hand, leaves it in the 

 following reversed order, falling over, like the mane, the 

 off-side of the neck, all being tightly stopped by the pressure 

 of the thumb, thus : Left bridoon uppermost, touching the 

 thumb, the left bit next, then 'the right bit followed by the 

 right bridoon touching the first finger. 



In the event of the right hand being requisitioned, the 

 bridoon rein, off side, is taken between the second and third 

 fingers, and the bit, if need be, between the third and little 



