FINENESS OF MOUTH. 39 



gency. If the third finger he allowed to divide the bit- 

 reins instead of the little finger, the reins will he then 

 properly divided ; and by both of them passing between 

 the inner surfaces of the fingers, the sense of touch is 

 much more acute, and the hand more alive to the 

 delicate impressions of the horse's mouth. Again, when 

 the third finger is permitted to divide the bit-reins, and 

 all the reins are required to be held in equal tension in 

 the left hand, it will be found that a rein will lie be- 

 tween each finger, thus exposing all the inner surfaces 

 of the fingers to the sense of touch, and adding greatly 

 to the strength of hold. 



The horseman is now furnished with an instrument 

 of great power, to control and direct the action of the 

 horse ; but it will depend much upon the excellence of 

 the previous training, and the quality of the rider's 

 hand, whether that power can now be made fully avail- 

 able to the best purpose. If the indications of the 

 hand have been dull, heavy, leaden, and uncertain, 

 then the mouth of the horse will remain nearly as 

 callous to the impressions of the bit, as it was to those 

 of the snaffle. 



Fineness of mouth means, a mouth that is perfectly 

 trained, and that responds to the determinate action of 



