94 THE SHORT REIN. [CHAP. 



its use to a reins in this way. To have to use his sword hand to 



soldier. 



shorten his reins may make the difference of life or death 

 to him. In the case of his adversary gaining his left rear, 

 by dropping the reins the sword is instantly shifted to the 

 left hand, and the short rein is instantly grasped with the 

 right hand at the proper length. As the soldier is only 

 trained to use his sword with his right hand (this might 

 be remedied by my sword exercise), it is not likely that his 

 left hand should be a match for his adversary's right, but 

 he will at least be able to keep his adversary at a distance 

 by striking or pointing at his horse's head. This would 

 be a hopeless affair with the right hand, particularly for a 

 cuirassier. To be able to present a pistol to the rear 

 with the left hand would be invaluable in such a case. 

 The po%er to drop and instantly resume the short rein 

 also allows two hands to be occasionally used to the lance 

 or carbine ; a skirmisher therefore should have one rein 



Itsusewith tied up. A pulling horse may be ridden with one or both 



the restive 



horse. reins tied, also a restive horse ; his usual mode of 

 * resistance is running back and rearing, because from fear 



