HOLDING THE HORSE. 97 



HOLDING AND LEADING A COMPARATIVELY QUIET HORSE. 



The best way to hold a fairly docile horse while standing 

 at his near side, is to draw the snaffle reins over his head, 

 hold them in the centre in the full of the left hand, and 

 catch both reins near the rings of the snaffle with the right 

 hand, having the little finger between them (see Figs. 13 

 and 14). While holding the reins in this way, we shall 



Fig. 13. Holding horse ? 



have good command over the horse when leading him. If 

 we wish to hold him for examination or for gear to be put 

 on him, we may place ourselves in front of him, catch the 

 off rein with the left hand and the near rein with the right 

 hand, close to the rings of the snaffle ; and hold the horse's 

 head up (see Fig. 15). If a somewhat difficult horse has 

 to be handled behind, say, about his near hind leg, we may, 

 while standing alongside his near shoulder and while 



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