HANDS 



A horse must never be allowed to get the 

 ascendency of the hands. By this is meant 

 that he must not get the better of the rider ; 

 the word ''hand" comprises the whole body 

 practically, as the horse is controlled as much 

 by the seat and legs as by the hands, and 

 it is only by combining the action of the 

 seat, legs and hands that perfect control is 

 obtained. 



A horse must not be allowed either to bear 

 on the bit or to snatch at it, and every such 

 attempt should be visited with immediate 

 punishment, the rider easing the hand very 

 slightly, so as to refuse the horse the support 

 he wants, and so cause a relaxation of the 

 muscles of the neck, closing his thumb firmly 

 on the reins, fixing his arms against his body, 

 and pressing in the legs close behind the girths, 

 giving a slight touch with the spurs, if necessary, 

 to bring the hind legs under and restore the 

 balance. 



If a horse refuses to raise his head and 

 neck, and balance himself, the rider must have 

 recourse to stronger measures ; he should 

 slacken the reins slightly and then strongly 

 "leg" the horse against the bit, whilst keeping 

 a firm grip on the reins. 



In the same way a horse should never be 

 33 d 



