2 MILITAKY BIDING NOT [CHAP. 



tliis monstrous and perpetual source of bad riding and of 

 bad usage to good animals, that these pages are written. 



England is the only European country which admits of 



more than one style of riding. But in all Europe, even 



Only one in England, there is but one style of riding taught, as a 



style of rid- 



ing taugla. svstem . that style is the manege or military style. The 



military style is, and must ever be essentially a one-handed 



That is, a style, for the soldier must have his right hand at liberty 



one-handed 



style. or ki s wea p 0ns> The recruit is indeed made to ride 

 with a single snaffle in two hands, but only as a prepara- 

 tory step to the one-handed style. His left hand then 

 becomes his bridle hand, and that hand must hold the 

 reins in such a manner as will require the least possible 

 aid from, the sword hand to shorten them as occasion may 

 require. This is with the fourth finger orfty between 

 them (Fig. 1). 



For these reasons, as far as soldiers are concerned, I 

 do not see how the present system can be altered for the 

 better, unless it be by placing the three last fingers of the 

 left hand between the reins (Fig. 2), instead of the fourth 



