168 HOW TO HOLD THE REINS. 



hand, so as to hold them in the manner shown respectively 

 by Figs. 157 and 158, and by Figs. 161, 162, and 163. 



RESPECTIVE MERITS OF ONE-HANDED AND TWO- 

 HANDED RIDING. 



Sensible people ride with one hand only when they are 

 obliged to do so ; because, even with the quietest animal, both 

 hands may be needed at any moment for control or 

 guidance. Besides, an even feeling on the reins when they 

 are held in one hand, can be maintained only by keeping 

 the hand in the median line of the horse's body, which is 

 naturally a more or less irksome task for the rider. Any 

 continued deviation of the hand from this central line will give 

 a one-sided feeling to the mouth. The three great objections 

 to one-handed riding, as far as control is concerned, are : that 

 by its adoption, the available strength of the rider is reduced 

 by nearly one-half ; that the rider has to rely almost entirely 

 on reversed indications for turning the animal to the right 

 or to the left ; and that, while keeping an even feeling on 

 the reins, he is unable to draw his hand further back than 

 the front of his body, which fact naturally obliges him to hold 

 his reins shorter than he need do if he had both hands on 

 them. Cavalry men and polo players have of course to ride 

 with one hand ; for the other hand will be occupied by, 

 respectively, a weapon and a polo stick. In pigsticking in 

 India, the right hand will have to be free to use the spear. 

 The Boers in South Africa habitually ride with one hand ; 

 because, when on horseback, they are accustomed to carry in 

 the right hand a rifle, which they rest on the right thigh. The 

 natives of South and Central America also ride with one 

 hand on the reins ; as they require a free hand for the use of 

 the lasso or bolas, but in all these countries the horses are 

 broken and ridden in severe bits, which they make no 



