HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP. 57 



counteract the height of the hand, and the friction will, 

 to a certain degree, steady and counteract the unequal 

 bearing on the horse's mouth. A low, smooth hand is the 

 only true martingale : this will never be acquired as long 

 as an implement is used which tends to permit harsh, high 

 handling with impunity. 



If you have anything to carry which entirely occupies one 

 hand, and which may occasionally require both, such as an 

 umbrella in wind, or an over-fresh horse to lead at a quick 

 pace, I recommend you to knot up your reins like a jockey, 

 by twisting them twice round the two first fingers of the left 

 hand, and passing the end double through the loop, so as to 

 form a bow; this will neither get slack, nor so tight as to 

 crease the reins, or to draw out with difficulty. It obviates 

 the possibility of a horse, wild with his head, drawing the 

 reins through the hands, and consequently the necessity of 

 using both hands to shorten them: at the same time, being held 

 with the breadth of the whole hand at the centre, distinct 



