470 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



step. This, which is reciprocally felt in the 

 Horse's mo th, by means of the correspond- 



place of the little finger in the second position, 

 and the little finger in that of the tluiml); 



cjice, is called the cf/)pM«; and while the «^^:>«/2 turn your nails quite upward, and towards 



is preserved between the hand and the mouth, 

 the Horse is in perfect obedience to the rider, 

 the hand directing him with the greatest 

 ease, so that the Horse seems to work by the 

 will of the rider, rather than the compulsion 

 of the hand. The hand then possesses a con- 

 siderable power, independently of other aids 

 and assistances, more than sufficient to con- 

 trol and direct a Horse that is broken and 

 obedient. 



Berenffer sives five directions on the func- 

 tions of the hand. Hold your hand three 

 fingers breadth from your body, as high as 

 your elbow, in such manner that the joint of 

 your little finger be upon a right line with the 

 tip of the elbow ; let your wrist be sufficiently 

 rounded, that your knuckles may be kept di- 

 rectly above the neck of the Horse ; let your 

 nails be exactly oppoite your body, the little 

 finger nearer to it than the others ; your thumb 

 quite flat upon the reins, which you must 

 separate by putting your little finger between 

 them, the right rein lying upon it : this is the 

 first and general position. 



Does your Horse go forward ; or rather 

 would you have him go forward, yield to 

 him your hand, and for that purpose, turn 

 }our nails downward in such manner as to 

 bring your thumb near your body ; remove 

 your little finger from it, and bring it into the 

 place where your knuckles were in the first 

 position ; keeping your nails directly above 

 your Horse's neck : this is the second po- 

 sition. 



If you would make your Horse go back- 

 ward, quit the first position ; let your \\ rist 

 be quite round; let your thumb be in the 



your face, and your knuckles will be towards 

 your H(;rse's neck : this is the third position. 



U you would turn your Horse to the right, 

 leave the first position, carry your nails to the 

 right, turning your hand upside down, in such 

 a manner that your thumb be carried out to 

 the left, and the little finger brought to the 

 right: this is the fourth position. 



Lastly, if you would turn to the left, quit 

 again the first position ; carry the back of 

 your hand a little to the left, so that the 

 knuckles may come under a little, that your 

 thumb may incline to the riglit and the little 

 finger to the left: this makes the fifth po- 

 sition. These different positions (says Be- 

 renger,) however, alone are insufficient, unless 

 the Horseman be able to pass from one to 

 another with readiness and order. 



THE NECESSITY OF EXAMINING THE HOKSe's 

 TACKLE. 



When the Horse is led out, saddled and 

 bridled, it is well always for the rider to exa- 

 mine with his own hands and eyes the state 

 of his Horse's equipment, and to ascertain 

 that every part of the furniture has been so 

 placed as to ensure his own safety as well as 

 the comfort of the Horse. The first object 

 will be the bridle, to see that the headstall be 

 of a proper length, neither too loose, nor so 

 short as to gall the Horse's jaws ; to see the 

 curb-chain hooked in its proper place, leav- 

 ing the snafl3e above, and clear ; the fore-top 

 hair placed under the band of the bridle, and 

 the reins untwisted and even. 



The saddle should be placed perfectly 

 even and centrical on the Horse's back, so 



