96 Modern Riding and Horse Education 



(a good example of this is seen in Plate XIII), 

 shoulders " and shoot out his arms to their full 

 extent, which is indispensable when landing over 

 a fence, unless the rider leans very much forward. 

 The wrists should be rounded and the knuckles 

 turned towards the horse's head to ensure the 

 maximum of play, and the reins should be held 

 as long as possible without sacrificing control: 

 on these points the instructor must focus his 

 attention. If the pupil has it in him, the rest will 

 come by practice in riding all sorts and conditions 

 of horses, provided they are bitted to suit their 

 work and temperament. 



One of the best judges of riding in Eng- 

 land recently told me that he always knew 

 a horseman by the length of his reins, and 

 doubtless the novice, from nervousness among 

 other causes, is apt to hold them too short; 

 if the habit of riding w^ith short reins is once 

 learnt it is not easy to eradicate, and the in- 

 structor should bear this in mind. The Italians 

 perhaps ride with the shortest reins in Europe. It 

 is in my opinion wrong, as it stultifies the move- 

 ment of the body from the hips upwards, thus 



