ii.] HOLDING AND HANDLING THE REINS. 21 



the same as the English mode of driving, but the right 

 rein is uppermost, which facilitates the dividing the reins 

 and placing them together again, and when the reins are 

 in the left hand, the right rein quits the hand between the 

 second and third finger. This allows you to hold one 

 rein while you slip the other, besides that the left rein is 

 not disturbed in taking the right rein in the right hand, 

 and in returning it to the left hand. 



But the following position (Fig. 8) is the foundation of Cross. 

 all fine handling, and therefore of aU fine riding. 



And if the pupil will only thoroughly acquire this one 

 movement he shall have my leave to consign the rest of 

 my book " protervis in mare Creticum portare ventis." 



We will call this movement cross, because the reins, 

 when in one hand, are crossed inside the hand. Take 

 the left rein with the three last fingers of the left hand, 

 so that it enters the hand outside the little finger, 

 and quits the hand between the first and second finger. 

 Place the right rein in the left hand over the first and 

 second finger, so that it enters the hand outside the first 



