HOLDING SINGLE REINS. 159 



horse-breakers' style, will be in the best position for general 

 use. If we wish to obtain a firmer grip on the reins, we may 

 pass the slack of the off rein into the left hand, and the slack 

 of the near rein into the right hand (Fig. 158). This cross- 

 reined method of holding the reins, which is the one generally 

 adopted by jockeys, gives a firmer grip on the reins than the 

 plan shown in Fig. 157, on account of the friction between 

 the opposing surfaces of leather ; but it does not allow the 



Fig. 158. Single reins crossed in both hands. 



rider to freely separate his hands, as he might desire to do 

 when trying to pull a horse round, as for instance, in the 

 event of the animal attempting to run out at a fence. This 

 objection would naturally have much less weight on a race- 

 course, than in the hunting field. 



HOLDING SINGLE REINS IN ONE HAND. 

 With the reins held as in Figs. 157 or 158, we pass the off 



