118 HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 



With double reins, when a rider wishes to use only 

 one pair, he may put a slip-knot on the other at the 

 desired length, so that he may have it ready to take up 

 in a moment. Ladies, on account of the smallness of 

 their hands, may, with advantage, adopt this method. 



When both hands are on the reins, if the rider wishes 

 to use one only the left for instance he should quit its 

 hold on the off-rein, for a moment, while he passes it 

 from the right into the left hand. 



If a rider who does not cross his reins, but holds 

 them in the riding-school manner, wishes to use both 

 hands, he is obliged to lengthen out the off-rein, in order 

 to get an " even feeling" on both reins and, consequently, 

 before the right hand quitfe them, as when about to use 

 the whip, &c., he will be obliged to draw up the off-rein 

 till it becomes of the same length as the near one. I need 

 hardly point out that doing this necessitates loss of 

 time, quite sufficient for a jockey to lose a race, or a 

 hunting man to fail to prevent a refusal at a fence. 

 But when holding the reins crossed, the left hand 

 picks up the off-rein in an instant, while both reins 

 always remain at the same length. 



When riding with the reins crossed, as I have des- 

 cribed, the rider has a far firmer hold on them than 

 when they are simply drawn through the fingers. 



As a rule, a man should always ride with both hands 

 on the reins. 



With a puller, a little powdered rosin, on the hands, 

 will aid in preventing the reins from slipping through 

 them. This precaution is particularly useful when the 

 reins get wet and slippery by rubbing against the 



