CHAPTER VI. 



TO HOLD THE REINS, AND MANAGE THE HORSE. 



"What a wild thought of triumph, that this girlish hand 

 Such a steed in the might of his strength may command ! 

 What a glorious creature ! Ah ! glance at him now, 

 As I check him awhile on this green hillock's brow; 

 How he tosses his mane, with a shrill, joyous neigh, 

 And paws the firm earth in his proud, stately play ! " 



GRACE GREENWOOD. 



THE position of the rider in the saddle has a 

 decided influence upon the horse's mouth, ren- 

 dering his movements regular or irregular, ac- 

 cording to the correctness and firmness of the 

 seat ; for, if the rider be unsteady or vacillating 

 in the saddle, this will exert an influence upon 

 the hand, rendering it correspondingly unstable, 

 and will thereby cause the horse's movements 

 to be variable. And should she endeavor to 

 remedy this unsteadiness of hand and seat by 

 supporting herself upon the reins, the horse 

 will defend himself against such rigid traction 

 by making counter-traction upon the reins, 

 thrusting his head forward, throwing himself 

 heavily upon his fore-legs, thus forcing the 



hands of the rider, and compelling her to sup- 

 10 



