Tim SEAT. 2 



-D 



obedience to the bridle-hand, it must be reinforced by the 

 right. The three first fingers of the right are placed over 

 the bridoon rein, so that the rein passes between the Httle 

 and third fingers, the end is then turned over the forefinger 

 and, as usual, the thumb is placed upon it. Expertness in 

 these "permutations and combinations " is only to be arrived 

 at by constant practice. They must be performed without 

 stopping the horse, altering his pace, or even glancing at 

 the hands. 



The reins must not be held too loose, but tight enough 

 to keep touch of the horse's mouth; and, on the other 

 hand, there must be no attempt to hold on by the bridle, 

 or what is termed to "ride in the horse's mouth." A 

 short rein is objectionable ; there must be no '^ extension 

 motions," no reaching out for a short hold. The proper 

 position for the bridle-hand is immediately opposite the 

 centre of the waist, and about three or four inches from it, 

 that is, on a level with the elbow, and about three or four 

 inches away from the body. The elbow must neither be 

 squeezed or trussed too tightly to the side, nor thrust out 

 too far, but carried easily, inclining a little from the body. 

 According to strict manege canons, the thumb should be 

 uppermost, and the lower part of the hand nearer the 

 waist than the upper, the wrist a little rounded, and the 

 little finger in a line with the elbow. A wholesome laxity 

 in conforming to these hard-and-fast rules will be found to 

 add to the grace of the rider. Chaqtie pays chaqiie guise, and 

 no two horses are alike in the carriage of the head, the 

 sensitiveness of the mouth, and in action.^ Like ourselves, 

 they all have their own pecufiarities. 



