46 THE HORSEMAN'S MANUAL. 



Previous to mounting, the rider should place the centre 

 of the bridoon reins about twelve inches up the horse's neck, 

 and the bit reins about six inches behind them ; the reins 

 will then be properly placed for mounting ; he should now 

 take the centre of the bridoon through the full of the left 

 hand ; and with the right hand the centre of the bit rein 

 between the thumb and forefinger, closing them together, 

 and place the little finger of the left hand between them, 

 with the left hand below the right ; let him then draw the 

 bit reins through the left hand with the right, till he feels 

 the horse's mouth very lightly ; the right hand must then 

 drop the reins, and take a lock of the horse's mane, and 

 firmly twist it round the thumb of the left hand, which is 

 to be closed on the mane and reins, for if his hand should 

 let the mane slip in the act of mounting, it would throw a 

 great weight upon the horse's mouth, and might be attended 

 with danger. He must then go through the remainder of 

 the instructions for mounting as before laid down. When 

 mounted, release the mane from the thumb of the left hand, 

 retaining the reins in it : the left hand now becomes, what 

 the soldier terms, the bridle hand, and should be placed 

 opposite the centre of the body. 



The right hand then takes the bridoon rein, and draws 

 it through the left ; thus he will have three reins in the left 

 hand, two below the little finger, and one between it and 

 the third finger, leaving for the right hand the right bri- 

 doon rein, which is to be held between the third and little 

 finger, the feeling on all four reins being equal, except, in 

 the early lessons with the bit, when the rider must feel it 

 but very lightly, increasing a little more every lesson. 

 The bit reins must lie flat and smooth one upon the other on 

 the second joint of the forefinger of the left hand with the 

 thumb upon them ; the bridoon rein over the bit reins next 

 to the palm of the hand ; the bit reins, as I have said before, 

 must at first be rather loose, although held properly, the 

 rider using the bridoon as a snaffle as he has a rein in each 

 hand. After the horse as gone through a part of his lesson, 



