246 THE HORSE IN AMERICA 



To hold the snaffle and curb reins in the left 

 hand properly so that either one or both may be 

 used at pleasure is most important. The reins of 

 the curb bit should be divided by the little finger, 

 the reins of the snaffle by the long finger, the loose 

 ends of both pairs being carried through the 

 hand and held by the thumb against the forefin- 

 ger. The right hand should be kept on the loose 

 ends of the reins behind the left, and when reins 

 are needed to be shortened the right hand should 

 pull them or either of them through the bridle 

 hand; but when the right hand is needed in as- 

 sistance of the bridle hand, the right should be 

 placed in front of the left. The knuckles of the 

 bridle rein should be kept up. This all seems sim- 

 ple enough, and it is so simple when learned that 

 an experienced rider never gives it a thought : but 

 new riders some times find it hard to learn, in- 

 deed some never learn it. 



The beginner should not use a spur. Most peo- 

 ple think a spur is an instrument of punishment. 

 It should seldom be so used. It is merely a tool to 

 assist the rider in conveying his wishes to the 

 horse. But to an obstinate, pig-headed horse it is 



