HANDS 35 



the action of the scat, legs and hands, that perfect 

 control is obtained. 



A horse must not be allowed to bear on or snatch 

 at the bit, or to throw his head up to avoid being 

 collected ; and every such act should be immediately 

 checked by the rider closing his thumbs firmly on the 

 reins, fixing his hands against his body, and pressing 

 in the spurs by dropping the toes. If he refuses to 

 raise his head and neck and balance himself, the rider 

 must have recourse to stronger measures ; he should 

 slacken the reins slightly, strongly " leg " the horse, 

 and then take a firm grip on the reins and draw the 

 bridoon gently through the mouth from side to side 

 with the palms of the hands turned upwards. The 

 horse should learn that by snatching at the bit he 

 brings the spurs into his sides. 



It is equally important that a horse should not be 

 allowed to recoil from the hand ; he must be driven 

 forward at once by the legs. 



The hands, arms and shoulders should be supple, 

 and the give and take should come from the fingers, 

 hands and wrists alone ; the hands being open with all 

 the fingers slack and bent, while the horse is going 

 nicely, and closing tightly on the reins without pulling 

 at them — the thumb alone first and then the fingers 

 if necessary, the knees at the same time gripping the 

 saddle firmly — ^the moment the horse tries to gain the 

 ascendency. At times, when on bad ground, one should 

 not be so exacting, as it is then necessary to let the 

 horse have the free use of his neck to either balance 

 himself, or to enable him to examine the ground in 

 front. 



In the case of a fidgety, excitable horse it is best to 

 have a slightly slack rein, so that he can play with the 



