MILITARY RIDING NOT [CHAP. 



arm hanging straight down from the shoulder the left 

 elbow lightly touching the hip the lower part of the arm 

 square to the upper little finger on a level with the 

 elbow wrist rounded outwards the back of the hand 

 to the front the thumb pointing across the body, and 

 three inches from it." In this position we are taught 

 that "the little finger of the bridle-hand has four lines 

 of action first, towards the breast (to stop or rein back) ; 

 second, towards the right shoulder (to turn to the right) ; 

 third, towards the left shoulder (to turn to the left); 

 fourth, towards the horse's head (to advance)." Try the 

 second motion : you will find it a very nice operation, and 

 that you are capable of shortening the right rein only 

 in a very slight degree ; you will also find that, if the 

 hand ceases to be precisely opposite the centre of the 

 body, the moment it is passed to the right the right 

 rein becomes slackened, and the left rein is pulled. 

 This is still more the case when the horse's neck is 

 between the reins ; the left rein is then instantly short- 

 ened across the neck. 



