RIDING WITHOUT REINS. 211 



proper length, in order to prevent the horse getting his head 

 up too high, in which case the outward rein would be apt 

 to go over the animal's croup and inconvenience the rider. 

 The reins should not be connected together, so that, if 

 required, one may be let go, and the other kept tight, as 

 might be necessary with a fractious horse. The horse is 

 driven round in a circle ; being led by the inward rein, 

 and supported by the outward one, which passes round his 

 hind quarters (Fig. 190). One great point to be observed 

 in this system of driving, is that the respective lengths 

 of the reins should be so regulated, that the horse will 

 circle with an even feeling on both of them, and without any 

 tendency to pull the driver after him. When the animal 

 goes steadily, the driver should hold the reins in one hand, 

 and the whip in the other. When he wants to turn the horse 

 to the right-about, from the position shown in Fig. 190, he 

 should change the whip to the left hand ; take a long step 

 forward with the right foot ; slide the right hand forward on 

 the right rein ; and having got the proper length, should 

 take a steady pull at the right rein, while letting the left one 

 slip through the left hand, until the turn is made. Before 

 turning to the left-about, the reins should be changed into 

 the right hand. 



After the pupil has learned to sit easily at the walk, trot 

 and canter, he should get practice in turning, which at first 

 should be done slowly and with due warning. To give him 

 confidence, he should in the beginning be allowed to hold the 

 neck strap of the standing martingale, which strap should be 

 lengthened out as may be required. By degrees, he should 

 dispense with its aid. 



With the long reins, practice can be given over fences, as 

 well as on the flat. For jumping, the precaution should be 

 taken that the inner end of the obstacle should be free from 

 the presence of an upright post or other object which might 



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