60 MANAGEMENT OF BRIDLE. 



the mounting side, without forcing her over to 

 the other. 



The most important performance for a lady on 

 horseback is the management of the bridle, on 

 which her own security very much depends, 

 and which, besides using awkwardly, few 

 seem to understand, or are sufficientlly care- 

 ful about, to avoid danger. But as they 

 cannot have the horse too much in their 

 power, ladies are to hold and use their bridles 

 in the same manner as is prescribed for gentle- 

 men (see page 29) ; and on being mounted, 

 they should take up and adjust the reins 

 scientifically, securely, and gracefully, viz., as 

 the reins rest upon the horse's neck, take up 

 the loop-end of the curb-rein with the right 

 hand, and placing the left hand under the 

 right, receive the bridle in it, inserting the 

 little finger between the rein, then close the 

 left hand, and w r ith the right draw the rein per- 

 pendicularly upwards through the left hand, 

 throwing the spare end of the rein over on 

 the outside of the knuckles. The left hand, 

 thumb upwards (page 30), and wrist always 



