342 The Book of the Horse. 



I do not consider them clear enough to be of much value, but quote them as the advice of a 

 very accomplished equestrienne : — 



"In the first position, with a rein in each hand, the hands are held about three inches from the body, about 

 four inches apart, in line with each other, with the thumbs uppermost, and the Httle fingers on a line with the 

 elbows. 



"The second consists of a shght yielding of the hands, by which the horse is enabled to advance. 



" The third shortens the right rein by turning the little finger of the right hand upwards towards the waist, 

 and inchnes the horse to the right. 



" The fourth shortens the left rein by turning the little finger of the left hand upwards towards the waist, 

 and inchnes the horse to the left. 



"The fifth shortens both reins by turning the little fingers up at the same moment, and stops the horse, while by 

 bending the hand inwards towards the body, this position compels him to go forward." 



All which may be quite true and easy to professors of the Jiautc ccole, but little fingers of 

 such extraordinary power are rare ; and a little experience will teach riders, male or female, 

 to effect their object in a less complicated manner. The point to be aimed at is a delicate 

 j-et firm touch, a constant feeling of the horse's mouth, with not more restraint on either or 

 both reins than is required to make the steed turn either way, stop, or back. 



Slack reins, or reins jerked instead of pulled smoothly, are equally errors of equestrianism. 



Light hands give and take, and always return to the right position. A fresh horse may 

 be allowed to draw the reins through the rider's fingers ; but they must always be shortened 

 again, so that the rider has command of the mouth, just as the steersman of a row-boat 

 never allows the lines to become slack. The body must act with the hands. When a 

 horse stumbles, or starts suddenly into a gallop, or plunges in high spirits, the body inclining 

 backward gives weight to the grasp of the reins in the hands. 



On walking enough has been said in a previous chapter. A horse at fast paces should 

 always be stopped by degrees ; the rider bending back her shoulders as she presses the bit 

 evenly on the horse's mouth. 



TROTTING. 



Ladies must learn to trot for several reasons. As already explained, a change of pace is 

 a great relief to a horse in a ride of more than an hour. Almost all horses trot a little when 

 stopped from a hand-gallop. Sometimes the choice is between riding a horse that will trot 

 well and will not canter, and not riding at all. Besides, a lady cannot have a perfect seat 

 without being able to trot. 



Short women look better trotting than tall women, unless the horse trots so smoothly 

 that a perfectly upright carriage can be maintained. To see a lady leaning forward over her 

 horse's ears on the trot is very offensive. 



" Vieille Moustache'' recommends that a pupil should prepare for trotting by practising 

 rising and falling without a stirrup, the horse standing still ; and that the first lessons in 

 motion, with the foot in the stirrup, should be performed with the assistance of the master 

 riding alongside, with his left hand under her right elbow. 



" There should be no twist from the waist ; the shoulders perfectly square, every move- 

 ment in exact harmony with the horse's motion." 



As a rule, the appearance of ladies trotting is vile, for want of proper instruction, and 

 sometimes from their having adopted a masculine style. Under any circumstances, trotting 

 lessons should be very short. 



