42 ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



third fingers, and regulates the feeUng on the horse's 

 mouth. 



When holding the end of the reins between the 

 thumb and first finger, the first joint of the thumb 

 should be bent, so that the tip presses on the reins and 

 holds them tight without the muscles of the arm being 

 contracted, as is the case if the whole hand grips the 

 reins. 



When riding a well-trained horse muscular con- 

 traction in any part of the body should be avoided, and 

 so far as the hands are concerned, thumb pressure on 

 the reins generally gives perfect control, the rest of the 

 hand being relaxed. The rider should also be careful 

 to keep his eyes up instead of looking down at his 

 horse's withers ; the sense of touch becomes much more 

 acute in the hands, if the eyes do not assist them in 

 watching the movements of the horse, and, conse- 

 quently, the handling of the reins becomes lighter and 

 more accurate. Riding when it is dark, for the same 

 reason, also helps to make the hands light. Besides 

 this, a horseman should use his eyes to make accurate 

 note of all his surroundings, and to search for the 

 interesting in everything. 



As to the employment of hands and legs there are 

 two distinct schools. Baucher, in his later writings, 

 claims that the secret of obtaining the most perfect 

 balance is to use the hands and legs separately, and not 

 in combination. 



He says that the function of the hand is to control 

 the head and neck, and to place or restrain a horse, 

 whilst the legs and spurs bring the hind legs under the 

 body and excite the propelling power of the hind- 

 quarters. 



He used the legs merely to drive the horse forward 



