Holding the Reins. 91 



gymnasiums, this is one of the usual exercises, 

 on a horse-block with imitation saddle, and is an 

 excellent practice. By all means learn it. 



XXIX. 



You do not seem to hold your reins handily, 

 Tom. Of all the methods of holding reins I pre- 

 fer the old cross-country way of a generation 

 back, still recommended, I was pleased to see, in 

 the very excellent article " Horse " of the edition 

 of the " Cyclopaedia Britannica " now publishing, 

 and I fancy yet much in vogue. 



The School method is different ; but the School 

 requires that the curb and snaffle shall be used 

 for different indications or " aids " to convey the 

 rider's meaning to the horse, and not at the same 

 time. In ordinary saddle work it is generally 

 convenient to employ the reins together. Gather 

 your reins up with me. The near curb outside 

 little finger, near snaffle between little and third 

 fingers, off snaffle between third and middle, off 

 curb between middle and index, all four gathered 

 flat above index and held in place by thumb, 

 knuckles up. Or easier, take up your snaffle by 

 the buckle and pass the third finger of left hand 

 between its reins; then take up the curb and 

 pass the little, third, and middle fingers between 

 its reins. The snaffle reins, you see, are thus in- 

 side the curb reins, each is easily reached and 



