2,12 The Book of the Horse. 



line ; but a horse that has the slightest inclination to turn to either side cannot be guided with 

 one hand. Yet driving horses in single harness with one hand is considered the correct thing, 

 and practised by many self-taught drivers. 



" With the reins in one hand in single harness you may at any moment be left perfectly 

 helpless — the precious moment lost before you can get up the other hand. The slightest move- 

 ment of the horse turns the shafts, and as the reins run parallel to the shafts, there is the 

 least possible guiding power in the hand. The best way of using the second hand, if you do 

 not take a rein in each hand, is to place the exterior part of the right hand upon the off rein 

 {fight liand), which is grasped by the third little finger if necessary. In this position the fore- 

 finger naturally falls upon the near rein, and by exercising a gentle pressure, either with this 

 finger or with the opposite exterior angle of the hand, as may be required, as much accuracy 

 and nicety of force may be employed as if a rein were held in each hand. If the off rein is 

 taken between the fingers with a hard-pulling horse, it will soon cut and tire them, and the 

 hold must be lost if it be required to touch the near (left hand) rein ; whereas, at the bottom 

 of the hand there is a strong metacarpal muscle well calculated to resist the strain, and the 

 near rein can be easily reached by the first and second fingers without relaxing the hold." 



But when the driver and horse understand each other, and are in steady action, the reins 

 may be trusted to one hand, while the whip is gracefully carried in the other. Paradoxical 

 as it may sound, it is much easier to drive and turn a pair of horses, if they go well up to 

 the bits, with one hand than a single horse, because the coupling-reins, with a turn of the 

 wrist, may be tightened so as to bring the outside horse intended to turn toward the pole, 

 and the pole, acting as a rudder, turns the carriage. Therefore, in starting with either one 

 or a pair of fresh horses, good coachmen take the reins in both hands ; and in both hands 

 must they be retained as long as there is the least probability of a horse turning to the 

 right or left. A careful coachman always keeps his right hand conveniently near the reins 

 held in the left hand when driving one or a pair of animals of blood and courage, so that 

 in a moment he may shorten the reins by taking hold an inch or two before his left hand. 



Another authority, who objects somewhat to the idea of holding the reins in one hand, 

 writes: — "At starting collect your horse by grasping the reins tightly, thus bracing the 

 muscles of the hand and arm ; to ease his mouth relax the muscles, which will be what is 

 technically called ' dropping the hand.' Hold the reins gripped in the lower part of the 

 hand, between the little finger and the fleshy muscular, the first and second fingers between 

 the reins, and the thumb quite free of the reins, so as not to stiffen the hand, and to allow 

 of the fist being closed on the reins as firmly as possible when required. 



" The reins to be held firm enough to prevent slipping, yet lightly when the horse does 

 not pull. 



"The right hand holds the whip (which is held upright, slightly leaning to the left); when 

 on the reins the exterior part of the hand rests upon the off rein, which is grasped by the 

 little finger, if necessary, to steady the hand. 



" In this position the forefinger easily falls upon the near rein, and by exercising a gentle 

 pressure with this finger on the near rein, or with the opposite exterior angle of the hand 

 on either rein, as may be required, as much accuracy and nicety of force may be employed 

 as is necessary. 



"The hands and arms to be kept quite steady (muscles relaxed), the hand with a steady 

 even feeling on the horse's mouth. The reins always taut, but held as if afraid of breaking 

 them ; the horse giving a little tug at each move. If the horse tries to bear on or take 



