294 MILITARY RIDING. 



Method of Holding the Reins. The military method of 

 holding the reins, when riding on the bit with one hand, has 

 been severely criticised ; but I do not think a better way could 

 be introduced. A man with good hands and a supple wrist 

 can easily make a direct feel to either side of the horse's 

 mouth, and the pressure of the opposite leg in the right spot 

 will make the animal instantly obey. 



All four reins are used whenever possible, two in 

 each hand with the little finger between them, the 

 bridoon reins being outside. All jumping is done in this 

 way, with both hands on the reins, the latter being held 

 in the left hand only when the sword is carried in the 

 right ; at other times two reins are held in each hand for 

 jumping. 



Stirrup Fitting. The lower edge of the stirrup should be 

 from two and a half to three and a half fingers' breadth above 

 the upper edge of the heel of the boot. This is about the 

 length used by good hunting men. It enables the thigh to be 

 kept in a sloping position, and gives the rider the ability 

 to apply the lower part of his legs to his horse's sides and 

 thus control his movements. A man should know how to 

 measure his stirrups by the length of his arm, so that when 

 mounting a young or restless horse he will not require to 

 alter them when mounted. 



The Military Seat. As a cavalry soldier requires all the 

 firmness of seat needed in hunting, his seat in the saddle 

 should resemble the hunting seat as closely as possible (see 

 p. 207, Fig. 189). The hunting man riding in the ordinary 

 way has his stirrups a hole or so longer than when he is 

 galloping with hounds across country. Practice in cross 

 country riding has given him an easy and secure seat which 

 should be taught to all cavalrymen, seeing that on service 

 they may have to cross various forms of difficult country, and 

 the seat that enables them to endure many hours' hard riding 



