RIDING AND HUNTING. 113 



practice, as it preserves them from scratches of thorns, and from 

 mud, wet, cold, etc., and hunters fare very badly if they are 

 deprived of this protection. 



Holding the reins is a matter of little consequence. The 

 ordinary way of placing one rein outside the little finger of the 

 left hand, with the remaining three between each of the other 

 fingers, that is, when a double bridle is used, is the most con- 

 venient method while walking and trotting; but when the 

 pace is increased to a canter or gallop, both hands must be 

 used, and the right rein must, after leaving the right hand, 

 pass across to the left hand and vice versd, which arrangement 

 connects the two hands firmly, but not too tightly together, 

 and consequently afibrds the rider much more power in his 

 arms than he otherwise would have without such connection. 



When a horse is jumping, both hands should be kept on 

 the reins, instead of leaving go with one hand, as so many 

 men do, throwing the unemployed hand in the air, as though 

 putting up a signal to those behind that there is a drop, or 

 formidable ditch on the landing side of the fence, besides 

 making their seat less secure, and being less prepared to assist 

 the horse in case he should make a mistake. This habit of 

 leaving hold of the reins with one hand in jumping cannot be 

 too strongly condemned ; as there is another habit which it 

 leads to, that is, clutching hold of the saddle behind, which is 

 the worst habit any young rider can acquire. Men have been 

 seen nervously clutching the back part of the saddle at every 

 small ditch or obstacle they went over, not because they were 

 afraid of falling off, but merely from force of habit. 



The Hunting Crop is generally held in the right hand, 

 about six inches from the loop, with the hook downwards, the 

 lash coiled up and held in the same hand. This is, of course, 

 when the crop is not in use. A good saddle and bridle by 

 a good maker have a great significance for hunting men, 

 and, for perfect articles, one need go no further than in 

 I 



