TIGHTENING THE KEINS. 41 



ment to the right, the left hand makes the extra 

 bearing upon the right bit-rein, by turning up the little 

 finger towards the left shoulder; and the right hand 

 aids the extra bearing, by its bearing upon the right 

 snaffle-rein, in turning up the little finger also towards 

 the left shoulder. To feel the horse's mouth in any 

 movement to the left, the left hand makes the extra 

 bearing upon both the bit and the snaffle, by turning up 

 the little finger towards the right shoulder. 



This method of riding gives the horseman great 

 additional power over the mouth of the horse, and is 

 generally required to be used when the spirit or ob- 

 stinacy of the horse renders the use of one hand alone 

 unsafe or unsatisfactory, as in cases of running away, 

 &c. When all the reins are required to be tightened 

 and used in one hand, the snaffle-reins are drawn tight, 

 and the right snaffle-rein is placed between the first and 

 second finger of the left hand ; the remainder of the 

 reins falling over the fore-finger on the off" side, and 

 secured by the thumb. In this arrangement, if the 

 third finger he j^errnitted to divide the hit-reins, the four 

 fingers divide all the reins ; but the great difficulty is to 

 keep the whole of them hi an equal state of tension. 



If a horse be determined to bore upon the bit, or to 



