HINTS ON RIDING 103 



breeze. By good hands are meant a constant but 

 gentle and delicate communication held between the 

 horse and rider by means of the mouth, a communica- 

 tion extremely light but absolutely firm. 



One rule cannot be too strongly emphasized, and 

 that is that evenness of pressure must be maintained 

 on the reins.* Each rein must be the length of the 

 opposite rein in the other hand. That is, although 

 the bit and bridoonf reins may be of different lengths, 

 the right bit or bridoon rein must be of exactly the same 

 length as the left bit or bridoon rein. Therefore in 

 picking up the reins the beginner must take care that 

 they are not twisted, but be careful to distinguish be- 

 tween them so that they may be of the same length 

 in both hands. 



Delicacy of touch is assisted greatly by the correct 

 position of the arms and the hands, as well as by the 

 way the reins are held. The forearms should hang 

 horizontally and easily to the sides, the elbows neither 

 squeezed tightly in, nor yet stuck out at right angles 

 to the body. The correct position not only adds neat- 

 ness to the appearance but adds to the power of the 

 rider, for, although in pulling up, the wrists do most of 

 the work, the elbows must be able to pull back in a 

 straight line to the rear, and the arm must act like a 

 piston, forward and backward. 



The forearm should be at right angles to the upper 

 arm, and the wrists pliable and ready to give and 

 take. In this position the arms bear no weight on 



* Disregard of this rule even by good riders causes most horses to 

 acquire an uneven way of holding the bit, and consequently to get a 

 "hard" and a "soft" side to their mouths. 



t The bridoon of a double bridle is incorrectly called (in this country) 

 a "snaffle." The correct terms are the "bridoon" and the "bit," 

 and not the "snaffle" and "curb." 



