MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSE. 163 



snaffle-reins: The loose, disengaged ends of 

 all the reins must be held in the same manner 

 as stated in the preceding paragraph, between 

 the thumb and index finger of the right hand, 

 not omitting to keep up a support to the horse ; 

 the grasp of the left hand must now be slightly 

 relaxed, and this hand be slid up along all the 

 reins, which movement will lengthen them in 

 the left hand. The grasp of the right hand upon 

 the snaffle-reins must now be relaxed, and the 

 left hand be slid down along the curb-reins, car- 

 rying the snaffle-reins with it, until the proper 

 range or distance has been attained, when the 

 right hand may be removed. While these 

 changes are being made, the right hand must 

 sustain the horse by the curb-reins until the left 

 has obtained a firm hold upon all. 



To shorten the snaffle and lengthen the 

 curb reins, a course similar to the one just pre- 

 ceding must be pursued, except that in this case 

 the right hand must retain the snaffle-reins, and 

 support the horse by them, while the left hand, 

 in sliding down, will carry those of the curb. 

 In all these changes of the various reins, it must 

 be remembered that after each change has been 

 effected the reins must be held in place by firm 

 pressure of the thumb, as already described. 



When either of the reins held in the left 



