64 HORSEMANSHIP. 



fingers, or, if preferred, the outside of the little finger rests 

 on it, both reins being stopped by the thumb, as before, 

 over the second joint of the index finger; or the thumb 

 can advantageously be left free. Thus on either hand there 

 will be an equal tension of the four reins, and the horse- 

 man will be in the best possible position to control and 

 direct the horse. 



When riding an animal with a fine or sensitive mouth the 

 horseman cannot be too cautious as to how he uses the bit 

 reins. Tlie movements of the hands in bearing upon either 

 rein are precisely the same, save that in handling the bit, on 

 account of its greater power, a greater delicacy is requisite. 

 A well-bitted and handy horse can, when the rider has all 

 the reins in the left hand, be readily turned to the right, 

 provided he is going up to his bridle, as follows, and the 

 movement is almost imperceptible. Turn the wrist down- 

 ward so as to bring the heel of the hand nearer the body, 

 at the same time drawing the elbow back just sufticient to 

 bring a trifle more tension on the off reins. Should the 

 horse not at once respond, a touch with the right heel well 

 behind the girths will send his croup over to the near side 

 and bring his fore hand round in the desired direction. In 

 order to turn to the left, the action must be reversed : the 

 \\Tist is turned so as to bring the nails uppermost and the 

 knuckles downwards; this will bring pressure on the left 

 reins, w^hich, by bringing the elbow forward and letting the 

 hand go over a couple of inches or so to the right, will be 

 increased ; the application of the left heel will then complete 

 the turn. But by far the most certain method is to take 

 the reins in both hands. Except when a horse is well 

 trained, and works well up to his bridle, the effect of the 

 reins, when held in one hand only, cannot be depended 

 upon with the same certainty as when both hands are em- 



