22 CAVALRY HORSEMANSHIP 



one can combine these actions without mixing them 

 up. On the other hand, the more undecided the horse 

 is, the clearer ought to be the indications given him, 

 and the more necessary it is to separate the actions, 

 so that they ma}^ not counteract each other. 



2. Harmony of the two reins.— Before trying to 

 regulate or strengthen the action of one rein by that 

 of the other, it is necessary to make certain that they 

 do not oppose one another ; if the right hand acts, 

 one must see that the left hand allows the action of the 

 right hand to produce its full effect. Accordingly, not 

 only should the left hand refrain from acting, but it 

 should not even resist : it should yield. 



If it acted at the same time as the right hand, even 

 if it resisted, so far from strengthening the action, it 

 would but oppose, lessen, or perhaps completely 

 destroy it. To yield the left hand, when the right 

 hand acts, is to give to the action of the hand its full 

 effect. 



To sum up, each time that the right hand acts, 

 whether it be by opening the rein, by applying the 

 direct rein of opposition, the indirect rein, or the indirect 

 rein of ojoposition, the left hand should first yield, to 

 allow the head and neck to take the indicated position, 

 then resist, if it is necessary to limit the movement, 

 in which case it plays the part of a regulating rein. 

 An action of the left hand can perfectly follow the 

 action of the right hand : one can substitute, for 

 example, an action of the indirect rein for the action 

 of the opened rein, but these actions are alternative, 

 and the principle of the active rein and of the 2^(^^^sive 

 rein is alwaj^s observed. When riding with one hand, 

 the indirect rein acts alone, the direct rein becoming 

 slack at the moment of action. If the two reins are 



