328 THE HORSE 



directions for the purpose adopted in different schools, which are de- 

 pendent upon altogether conflicting principles. Every tyro knows that 

 the horse turns to the left by pulling the left rein, and to the right by 

 pulling the opposite one ; and the problem to be solved is to do this by 

 one hand only. Now, this with the single rein is easily effected by raising 

 the thumb towards the right shoulder, when the right rein is to be pulled, 

 or by drawing the little finger towards the fork for the left ; in both cases 

 by a turn of the wrist, without lifting the whole hand. But over and 

 above this action on the mouth, and in many cases independent of it, is a 

 movement which, in trained horses, is capable of much greater delicacy, 

 and which depends upon the sensibility of the skin of the neck for its due 

 performance. 



It is effected by turning the whole hand to the right or left, ivithout any 

 wrist action, so as to press the right rein against the neck, in order to cause 

 a turn to the left, and the left rein against the neck for the opposite purpose; 

 at the same time rather slackening the reins so as not to bear upon the 

 mouth by so doing. In this way a horse may be turned with a much 

 greater degree of nicety and smoothness than by acting on the corner of his 

 mouth. But highly-broken horses, such as the military troop-horses, are often 

 too much used to their bits to answer to this slight and delicate manipula- 

 tion ; and therefore it is eschewed by Captain Richardson, as well as by 

 Colonel Greenwood, but, strangely enough, for opposite reasons, and each 

 attempting to substitute a very different process for it. I am well aware 

 that some horses can never be taught it, but must always have a bearing 

 made on the mouth before they will turn ; yet, when it can be incul- 

 cated, it makes the animal so tractable and agreeable to ride, that it 

 is a highly desirable accomplishment ; and I cannot, therefore, join in 

 condemning its use, but should rejoice if it could in all cases be fully 

 developed. 



The double rein is usually held by those who ride for pleasure in this 

 country as follows : — Begin by taking up the snaffle-rein, and place the 

 fore and middle fingers between its two portions; then lay hold of the 

 curb-rein, and either hook it loosely on to the little finger, if not imme- 

 diately wanted, or draw it up to the requisite degree of tightness and turn 

 it over the fore-finger, when it will lie upon the snaffle-rein, and, together 

 with it, will be gripped by the thumb. By adopting this plan, the curb- 

 rein is always at the command of the right hand ; and it may be shortened 

 or let out in a moment, which is of constant occurrence in every day's 

 ride. The hand is held as with the single rein, with the thumb pointing 

 to the horse's ears ; in turning, however, there is much less power of 

 bearing on either side of the bit by raising the thumb or lowering the 

 little finger, because the distance between the snaffle-reins is only half 

 what it was, and therefore the mode of turning by pressure upon the neck 

 is doubly desirable ; and hence its general adoption in those cases where 

 double-reined bridles are used, as in the field and on the road. Some- 

 times, to obviate this objection, the snaffle-x'eins are placed as in the 

 single-reined bridle, outside the little finger, and then the curb is hooked 

 over the ring-finger, between the snaffle-reins, so as to allow of the full 

 manipulation of the mouth by the hand, without bearing upon the neck. 

 But the objection to this is, that the curb cannot be shortened without 



