HOLDING SINGLE REINS. 115 



The reins can now be shortened or lengthened without 

 the hands quitting them by simply drawing the hands 

 apart, and at the same time tightening or relaxing, 

 as the case may be, the hold of the thumb of the 

 right hand on the near rein, and that of the little finger 

 of the left hand on the off-rein. When the reins are 

 shortened in the manner described, the hands are 

 brought together to their proper distance one from 

 another, while the slack of the reins is allowed to slip 

 through the palms of the respective hands. 



If the rider wants to shorten his reins quickly, as for 

 instance when the horse " pecks" on landing over a fence 

 and pulls the reins through his hands, his left hand should 

 quit the off-reins and he should slip it forward on the 

 near rein his right hand, the while, retaining its hold 

 on both and, having got the proper length, he should 

 catch the off-rein underneath, with the palm of the hand 

 upwards, in the following manner 



FIG. VII. 



