ANGLO-FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



finger of the left hand dividing the left snaffle 

 and curb reins, the ends of which are held 

 between the first and second fingers, whilst the 

 two right reins pass between the thumb and first 

 finger and fall through the palm of the hand. 



With regard to the seat, the rider should sit 

 well on the saddle, with his stirrup leathers of 

 such a length that he can clear the pommel 

 easily when standing up in his stirrups,* and 

 he should as much as possible avoid gripping 

 the horse with the legs, as continual pressure 

 dulls sensibility. It is by balancing himself on 

 his seat bones that a rider best maintains his 

 position in the saddle. Horses go kinder with 

 men who sit loose, though steadily, than with 

 those who are always squeezing them ; they also 

 balance themselves better and are much freer 

 in their movements. The rider should keep 

 his limbs and hands supple, and avoid any 

 contraction of the muscles, except when he 

 wants to enforce obedience or to immobilize his 

 horse, and to stop even a hard puller it is gene- 

 rally sufficient to stand up in the stirrups, close 

 the fingers on the reins, and to squeeze the 

 horse with his knees. 



* The horse's action and shape to some extent fix the 

 rider's position, and it is sometimes more comfortable to sit 

 forward nearer the waist of the saddle. 



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