18 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP 



of making him back. They are called direct reins. 

 Their action is produced by fixing the hands, the 

 fingers being closed on the reins held at a proper length, 

 whilst the elbows and hands are drawn back as little 

 as possible. 



The half halt is a strong and brief action of the 

 hand, which the rider carries out by closing the fingers 

 on the reins and turning the nails quickly upwards 

 without losing touch with the horse's mouth ; the 

 hand being carried slightly back. It serves to steady 

 excitable horses, and also to carry back to the hind 

 quarters the excess of weight which some badly 

 balanced horses carry on their forehand. It is given, 

 according to necessity, either with one rein, or with 

 the two reins together, and either with the bridoon or 

 the bit reins. The hand should proportion the force 

 of these effects to the amount of resistance which the 

 weight offers. 



The vibration is a succession of slight jerks, com- 

 municated to one of the bits through cither one rein, 

 or the two reins at the same time. It can be given, 

 as in the ease of the half-halt, with the bridoon or the 

 bit reins ; it is continued for a few seconds, and is 

 strong or light, according to the resistance encountered. 

 This action is used to overcome the muscular contrac- 

 tion of the lower jaw, which the horse opposes, either 

 instinctively or voluntarily, to the action of the bit. 



B. The Hands also give the Position to the 

 Forehand 



The reins act by the mouth, on the head, the neck 

 and the shoulders. They enable the rider to place the 

 head in relation to the neck, the neck in relation to the 



