98 THE HOESE OWNER's 



cause a turn to the left, and the left rein against the neck 

 for the opposite purpose ; at the same time rather slacken- 

 ing the rein, so as not to bear upon the mouth by so doing. 

 In this way a horse may be " cantered round a cabbage 

 leaf," as the dealers say, with a much greater degree of 

 nicety and smoothness than by acting on the corner of his 

 mouth. But highly broken horses, such as the military 

 troop-horses, are often too much used to their bits to an- 

 swer to this slight and delicate manipulation; and, there- 

 fore, it is eschewed by Captain Richardson, as well as by 

 Colonel Greenwood. I am well aware that some horses 

 never can be taught it, but must always have the bearing 

 on the mouth before they will turn ; yet, when it can be 

 taught, it makes the animal so tractable and as^reeable to 

 ride that it is a highly desirable accomplishment, and I 

 cannot, therefore, join in condemning its use, but should 

 rejoice if it could in all cases be fully developed. 



The double rein is held in two ways, but the best, in 

 my opinion, is as follows : First, take up the snaffle-rein 

 and place it as before, except that the left rein is to be 

 between the ring and middle fingers ; then raise the curb- 

 rein and hook it on to the little finger ; where it may either 

 be left for use when wanted, or at once drawn over the 

 fore-finger to the proper degree of tightness, and pressed 

 down upon it by the thumb ; in which case the reins 

 should all fall over the off side of the horse. By this 

 mode the curb-rein is always at the command of the right 

 band, and it may be shortened or let out in a moment, 

 which is of constant occurrence in every day's ride. The 

 hand is held as before, with the thumb pointing to the 

 horse's ears; in turning, however, there is much less power 

 of bearing on either side of the bit by raising the thumb 



