86 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 



teep the bridle hand steady at first, and to avoid anything 

 approaching to suddenness or roughness of action. 



This steadiness is best accomplished by causing the pupil to ride 

 with the reins arranged military fashion, with the snaffle reins 

 hanging over the full of the left hand, the off side rein upper- 

 most, and the right hand holding the end of the curb reins, as 

 before described, which affords greater facility for easing and 

 feeling them than can at first be expected, when the action is given- 

 altogether from the left wrist. In the latter case, the hand without 

 considerable practice would be far too heavy, even when the arm 

 was kept quite firm, and unbearably heavy to the horse if there was 

 any motion from the shoulder of the rider. 



I must repeat that the lines of action of the little finger of the 

 bridle hand are four — namely, towards the right and left shoulder 

 respectively, according as the rider desires to turn the horse right 

 or left ; and towards his neck and her own waist, as she wishes to 

 collect, rein back, or move him forward. 



Now, while in trotting on the curl) rein only the hand and arm 

 should be kept as steady as possible, in order that the horse may 

 make a free appul between mouth and hand, '• taking hold a 

 little of the latter ; " in cantering the direct reverse of this is the 

 case, and the hand of the rider should give and take to every stride 

 of the horse. 



It is in the mode of timing these give-and-take motions in exact 

 harmony with the action of the horse that fine and finished hands 

 consist ; and I will endeavour to give an idea of the readiest way in 

 which this delicate manipulation may be acquired, with as much 

 precision as the fair rider can exercise when pressing the keys of 

 a pianoforte. 



Let us suppose, then, that in preparing for the cantering lesson 

 on the curb, in order nicely to collect the horse, the reins are drawn 

 quietly through the left hand by the right, as above described, the 

 object being to rein the horse back a step or two, and balance him 

 well with forehand up and haunches under hun. By the above- 

 named drawing up of the reins a firmer appui is created against 

 the liorse's mouth. By closing both leg and whip, however, while- 



