Manual of Equitation and Horse Training 27 



For that purpose, the left hand not only should not act, 

 but it should not resist, it should give away. If it acts at 

 the same time as the right hand, if it even resists, far from 

 strengthening the action, it can only oppose it, weaken it, 

 or sometimes even destroy it. 



On the other hand, if the left hand gives way when 

 the right acts, the latter is left its full effect. 



So every time the right rein acts, whether as open- 

 ing rein, bearing rein, or rein of opposition, the left hand 

 should at first give way to permit the head and neck to 

 take the indicated position, then resist, if necessary, to 

 limit the movement. It then plays the role of regulating 

 rein. 



An action of the left hand may properly succeed an 

 action of the right hand; for instance, an action of a bear- 

 ing rein may be substituted for an action of an opening 

 rein, but these actions are successive and the principle of 

 the active rein and the passive rein is still observed. 



In riding with one hand, the bearing rein acting alone, 

 the direct rein hangs loose at the moment of action. If 

 the two reins are not in accord, at least they do not con- 

 tradict each other. 



Agreement of the two legs.— When the right leg acts 

 alone the left leg, at first, should give way to allow the 

 action of the right to produce its effect; it resists, if it is 

 necessary to regulate the movement by hmiting the dis- 

 placement of the croup. 



Agreement of the legs with each of the effects of the 

 ^eius.— Pressure of the legs has the effect of carrying the 

 horse forward, of producing the movement which the reins 

 should direct; so also tension on the reins produces effects 

 on the haunches which the legs should aid. 



There is then a constant connection between the hands 

 and the legs, which instead of being opposed should be 

 combined, strengthened, and put in accord. 



(a) The right opening rein leads the weight of the 

 neck on to the right shoulder without opposing the 

 haunches, which should follow the direction taken by the 

 shoulders. The legs merely maintain the movement by 

 an equal pressure. 



(5) The right direct rein of opposition bends the neck 

 in and to the right, carrying its weight on the right shoul- 



