50 MODERN HORSEMANSHIP. 



should be ready to assist the bridle hand, and 

 its most useful position will be upon the right 

 reins (in front of the bridle hand), the long finger 

 against the inside of the curb rein, the index 

 finger against the inside of the snaffle rein ; for 

 in this way the right hand can act with the right 

 reins, the left hand with the left reins. 



Upon mounting a nervous horse for the first 

 time, the rider should not confine the animal too 

 much, but should give it as much liberty as is con- 

 sistent with control ; in time the rider can accustom 

 the horse to any desirable state of collection. Some 

 horses will go with comparative quietness under a 

 light hand, but will bolt or run away if restrained 

 too much. 



Almost all horses will be ' fresh,' and more or 

 less mutinous, if they have not a sufficient amount 

 of work, and the rider should be cautious in cor- 

 recting the misconduct that arises from exuberant 

 spirits. Unless he be really a good horseman, I 

 advise the reader to exercise a ' fresh ' horse upon 

 the longe line before undertaking to mount an 

 animal that will perhaps resent any effort to direct 

 its movements with hand and heel. I do not say 

 this to arouse any timidity in the beginner, for 

 want of determination upon the part of a rider is 

 the source of much danger and difficulty ; but unless 



