MANAGEMENT OF THE REINS. 229 



2. When the rider wants to communicate his wishes to the 

 horse by the agency of the reins (or by any other aid), he 

 should do so in the clearest possible manner, in order that 

 there may be no chance of the animal misunderstanding his 

 meaning. Even the kindest tempered horse can be quickly con- 

 verted into a vicious brute by being given orders he does not 

 comprehend, and by being punished (by reins, whip, spurs or 

 stick) for not obeying them. Therefore, when we wish to make 

 a horse turn, we should (supposing that both hands are on 

 the reins) carry the lowered hand of the side to which the 

 turn is to be made, well away from the shoulder (Fig. 199), 

 so that the pull may act laterally, and consequently in an 

 effective manner, which it would not do if its direction was 

 from front to rear. 



3. The steadier the bit remains in the mouth, the more 

 accurately will the horse under ordinary conditions obey its 

 indications, and the less inclined will he be to resent its 

 presence between his lips. Hence we should as a rule keep 

 our hands steady, without any irritating sawing or " niggling " 

 at the reins. If, however, the animal bears too much on the 

 bit as a defence against our attempted control, we may draw 

 the bit through the mouth, so as to prevent him from thwart- 

 ing our wishes. Even in turning the horse, we should 

 be careful not to shift the bit in his mouth, to avoid doing 

 which, we should preserve a uniform tension of the reins on 

 both sides of the bit, although the pull of the reins will not 

 bs in the same direction. Here we shall be greatly aided by 

 bringing the opposite hand across the body, so as to apply 

 its rein to the neck ; for not only will the friction between 

 the rein and the skin help to keep the bit in position, but 

 the pressure of the rein on the neck will be an additional 

 indication for the horse to turn. 



4. In order that the rider may be able to use his hands with 

 precision, no disconcerting movements should be communi- 



