Hands 



III 



ease of handling the bit, though I should not go so far as 

 to say, as many do, that ladies, by merely sitting farther back 

 on their horses, and having correspondingly longer reins than 

 men, owe to this alone the wonderful superiority of their 

 hands over men's. We may discuss this point further 

 under the chapter devoted to " The Lady Rider." 



In general, riding with loose or slack reins is not only 

 bad form but is bad in theory and in practice. The reins 

 should be so held as always to maintain a slight touch of 

 the bit — no more if you can help it, and never any less. 

 If a person is sensitive enough of touch and will allow his 

 wrists to give and take to the oscillation of the horse's 

 head motion, he will be able to keep on the bit that most 

 desirable, even, steady pressure that best suits a horse and 

 gives to the rider the invaluable distinction of possessing 

 good hands. An excuse may be granted for riding a hard- 

 mouthed horse with tight reins, but there is no excuse 

 whatever for riding any horse with a slack rein. Slack- 

 rein riding gets a horse into slovenly ways of going. By a 

 continual touch upon the bit, however, a horse may be 

 guided to the right or left by an almost imperceptible 

 touch of the reins. 



Hands are never a less important point than they are in 

 jumping. Turn a horse loose in a runway and observe how 

 he handles his head in taking a jump. First he slackens his 

 pace for the last stride or two, as do deer and cattle and 

 dogs before they spring. Then he throws his head up 

 instinctively with the lifting of his fore legs, higher than it 

 is naturally carried, and after the obstacle is cleared, or 

 while he is clearing it, brings his head down again and then 



