RIDING AND TRAINING. I I 



CHAPTER IV. THE SNAFFLE BRIDLE. 



BEFORE one can excel in horsemanship he must 

 become ambidextrous he must learn to use each 

 hand with precision, force, and effect; otherwise 

 both he and his horse will be but half-trained, and 

 the movements to one side will be made with less 

 clearness than those to the other side. 



The beginner should be mounted upon a quiet 

 horse that is light in the mouth, and he should use 

 a simple snaffle bridle. He should hold a rein in 

 each hand, the little finger towards the head of the 

 horse, the thumbs held near together above the 

 pommel, the nails towards the ground. The elbows 

 should be close to the body, for if they are thrust 

 out the rider cannot have that delicate touch upon 

 the mouth of the horse that is so necessary. The 

 hands will be held high or low as the horse holds 

 his head low or high, and the first thing the rider 

 should discover for himself is the height at which 

 his hands should be held to insure his horse moving 

 properly. 



