HANDS 



37 



Such foolish misuse of it only recoils on the rider, 

 and the proper use of it cannot be too deeply im- 

 pressed on all who ride and who think they ride. 

 The reins are intended as guides and checks on the 

 horse, and not handles to hold on to in order to keep 

 the rider from falling off. The fingers of a rider 

 ought to be as sensitive to the ' ribbons ' as a 



Photo by] [TI~. Sfianovss. 



FIG. l8.— THE WRONG AND ABUSIVE METHOD OF APPLYING THE CURB. 



musician's fingers are to the various notes or strings 

 of his instruments. 



Fig. 1 8 shows a very incorrect manner of using 

 a curb-bit — the reins crossed and the curb hard 

 on. This picture is not so clear as it ought to 

 be, because ' Lady Jane ' strongly resented being 

 made the subject of such ignorant use, or rather 

 abuse. One could write much more on this subject, 

 but for the present I think enough has been said. 



