548 



POSITION OF THE REINS. 



The parts where the reins are joined should hang evenly in 

 front of the left hand. The reins may be adjusted by taking 

 the rein that is to be drawn out between the middle and in- 

 dex fingers of the right hand. The reins should now be 

 transferred into the right hand separated by the middle finger. 

 (See fig. 5.) 



Take up the wheel reins in the left hand separating them 

 with the middle finger, the near wheel rein on top. Drop 

 the left hand to the side as described in the preceding para- 



NEAR WHEEL 



OFF WHEEL 



EAR LEAD 



OFF LEAD 



FIG. 5. 



graph. Now raise the hand and adjust the reins, with the 

 thumb and forefinger of the right hand, so that the buckles 

 on the wheel reins hang evenly. 



Pass the lead reins into the left hand, the near rein over 

 the index finger and the off lead rein under the index finger 

 and on top of the near wheel rein. (See fig. 6.) 



When taking up the reins draw each in turn gently 

 through the ferrets, tight enough merely to " feel " the bit 

 without causing the horse to flex his neck or make any 

 backward movement. 



