HANDS 47 



steady, and at times vibratory, feeling on the mouth : 

 a steady hand makes a steady horse (see Appendix III.) ; 

 the vibratory action of the hand is helped if the reins 

 are held in the left hand together with a springy cane, 

 the end of which rests against the right thigh. 



The position of the hands is of importance. When 

 they are low, the legs applied just behind the girths 

 drive the horse's weight on to his shoulders and force 

 him to move faster, provided the fingers are not closed 

 tightly on the reins in order to balance him evenly on 

 the fore and hind legs — a balance which sound horses 

 certainly prefer in the slower paces — whereas, if the 

 hands are high the horse raises his head on being 

 stimulated by the legs, and throws his weight back on 

 to his loins and hocks, and so balances himself for 

 elevated action ; the seat bones also help by pressing 

 down the small of the back. 



The hands should, with the help of the legs, distri- 

 bute the weight, and make it convenient and easy for 

 the horse to obey his rider's wishes ; and when they 

 are high, the rider must be careful to press the elbows, 

 shoulders well down, so as to keep close to the saddle. 



A " double feeling " on a rein is obtained by raising 

 the hand, holding it, and dropping the other, e.g., to 

 turn to the right, raise the right hand, and press the 

 horse forward with the knees. If the turn is sharp, 

 the left hand should be carried to the right, drawing 

 the rein behind the withers so as to keep the horse 

 balanced on his off hind leg, which acts as a pivot. 

 If, however, a horse resists an order to turn, say, to 

 the right, hy rearing, it is better to lower the right hand, 

 fix it against the back of the thigh, and force the horse 

 round with the right spur. 



When, however, the reins are held in one hand it is 



