HOLDING THE BRIDLE. 61 



supple, to conform with, or allow of the motion 

 of the horse's head, without moving the arm, 

 must be held horizontally with the elbows, which 

 should be steady, easy, close to the body, and 

 drawn back until the hand is opposite the cen- 

 tre of the body. The bridle-hand, in holding 

 and using the bridle, is never to be turned with 

 the back upwards, nor Jjeld low down. The 

 loop-end of the bridle-rein is to be taken into 

 the palm of the left hand, outside the curb-rein, 

 and to fall in a festoon on each side of the horse's 

 neck. The right arm, and hand with the whip 

 turned downwards — not shaking in the horse's 

 eye — should be extended, and hang easily by 

 the right side ; or the hand with the whip, 

 whether turned up or down, may occasionally 

 be held symmetrically with the bridle-arm, and 

 both elbows down. This position of the hands 

 and elbows exhibits lightness and elasticity of 

 person, which are always admirable and con- 

 ducive to security of seat in equestrian exer- 

 cise. When a lady's strength is insufficient, 

 at any particular moment, to "hold-in" the 

 horse with her left hand only, she should assist 



G 



