16 HOLDING AND HANDLING THE REINS. [CHAP. 



uneasy and fidget.* But the reins must never be loose. 

 The bearing on the niouth, however lightly, must still 

 be felt ; and if the horse, in attempting to stare about, 

 as colts and ill-ridden horses will, should throw his head 

 to the right, it must be stopped by the feeling of the tip 

 of the fourth finger on the left rein; if he throws his 

 head to the left, by the feeling of the first finger on the 

 right rein. But provided that the bearing on the horse's 

 mouth, and this power of keeping his head straight, are 

 preserved, a horse cannot have too much liberty under 

 the circumstances supposed. Tp turn to the right both 

 reins must be pulled, the right the strongest, by feeling 

 the tip of the first finger towards you; both legs must 

 be pressed, the left the strongest; the whip shown on 

 the left. To turn to the left the reverse indications. 

 Down To take up the reins use the downward clutch f (Fig. 4); 



clutch. 



that is, place the two first fingers of the right hand 



* Tliis is one reason against an unalterable beating-rein. 

 t Have mercy on this little word, great reader, and do compound a 

 sesquipedalian clutch for me, out of digitus and Sdxrv\os. 



