ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



allowed to recoil from the hand ; he must be 

 driven forwards at once by the legs. 



The hands and arms should be supple, but 

 the give and take should come from the fingers, 

 hands and wrists alone, the hands and fingers 

 being open, whilst the horse is going nicely ; 

 and closing tightly on the reins without pulling 

 at them, — the thumb alone first and then the 

 fingers if necessary, the knees at the same time 

 gripping the saddle firmly, — the moment the 

 horse tries to gain the ascendency. At times, 

 of course, when on bad ground, one should not 

 be so exacting, as it is then necessary to let the 

 horse have the free use of his neck to either 

 balance himself, or to enable him to examine 

 the ground in front. Except in the fast paces 

 and out hunting, when as long a rein as the 

 horse asks for is conducive to the comfort of 

 the horse and the safety of the rider, the reins 

 should be of such a length that when the hands 

 are raised, so as to be in a line with the 

 elbows, the mere closing of the fingers and 

 legs will stop the horse and make him back, 

 if necessary, as the rider must have his 

 horse under such control that he can stop or 

 turn him to right or left immediately. In the 

 case of a fidgety, excitable horse, it is best 

 to have a long and slightly slack rein, so 



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