THE SEAT. 23 



head down or bores, the right shoulder is drawn forward, and 

 the left knee, as a matter of course, being drawn back from 

 under, loses its upward pressure against the leaping-head, 

 and the safety of the seat is jeopardized. Were the rein to 

 give way the rider would probably fall backwards off the 

 horse over his off-quarter. On the other hand, when the 

 reins are all gathered into the left hand, the harder the 

 horse may take the bit in his teeth, and the lower he may 

 carry his head, the firmer must be the grip of the crutch 

 and the greater the pressure against the leaping-head. 



As the reins must not be gathered up all in a bunch, I give 

 the following directions for placing them in the hand. If 

 riding with a snaffle, as always should be the case with 

 beginners, the reins ought to be separated, passing into the 

 hands between the third and fourth fingers, and out over the 

 fore or index-finger, where they are held by the thumb. In 

 the case of bit and bridoon (the bridoon rein has generally 

 a buckle where it joins, whereas that of the bit is stitched), 

 take up the bridoon rein across the inside of the hand, and 

 draw the bit rein through the hand on each side of the little 

 or third finger until the mouth of the horse be gently felt ; 

 turn the remainder of the rein along the inside of the hand, 

 and let it fall over the forefinger on to the off-side ; place 

 the bridoon rein upon those of the bit, and close the thumb 

 upon them all. 



A second plan equally good is, when the horse is to be 

 ridden mainly on the bridoon : the bridoon rein is taken 

 up by the right hand and drawn flatly through on each side 

 of the second finger of the bridle-hand, till the horse's 

 mouth can be felt, when it is turned over the first joint 

 of the forefinger on to the off-side. The bit rein is next 

 taken up and drawn through on each side of the little 

 finger of the bridle-hand, till there is an equal, or nearly 



