THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 59 



Raising the point of the whip, when a lady is trotting a horse on the 

 curb alone, and unassisted by her right hand, is very apt to make 

 him break, because the point of the whip is always in motion, and 

 causes the horse to turri his eye back at it. 



The instructor should now carefully place the lady's bridle hand, 

 with the wrist rounded outwards and the thumb pointing square 

 across the body, the back of the hand towards the horse's head, and 

 the little finger turned upwards and inwards towards the waist, the 

 arm perfectly firm, and the wrist quite supple — as in this case it is 

 from the wrist only that every indication to turn, to halt, or rein 

 back is given, aided by the whip on the off side and the leg on the 

 near side. The pupil can then be taught to turn her horse to either 

 hand, or about, at a walk, without any motion of the bridle hand 

 perceptible to a looker-on, although perceptible enough to the horse. 

 In turning to the right, the little finger should be turned down 

 towards the left shoulder, and the back of the hand turned up. 

 This movement will shorten the right rein, and cause it to act on 

 the right jaw of the bit. The whip should be closed firmly (not 

 with a blow) just behind the flap of the saddle on the off side. The 

 left leg suiDporting this will cause the horse to turn square to his 

 right. Exactly the reverse movement will turn him to the left. 

 Right or left about, aids continued, until the horse has reversed his 

 front. 



The trotting lesson may then be gone through again, the pupil 

 riding entirely with the left hand. But in beginning these lessons 

 care should be taken to let them be very short, because, in spite of 

 all previous supplying, considerable constraint is thrown upon the 

 wrist at first. Any yielding to the horse is accomplished by turning 

 the little finger towards his neck, while to collect him simply the 

 little finger is turned up again towards the waist. But the fingers 

 and thumb of the bridle hand must be kept firmly shut upon the 

 reins, otherwise the hand becomes heavy and uneven in its action. 



By lessons, gradually increased in length, the pupil should be 

 accustomed thus to ride her horse throughout the trotting lesson, 

 and trot him out, riding with one hand. It is not usual for ladies 

 to continue for any length of time riding in this form ; but it is 



