( i8 ) 



firfl fenfation of the hand confifts in a greater or lefs 

 degree of finenefs in the touch or feehng ; a feehng 

 in the hand of the horfeman, which ought to com- 

 municate and anfwer to the lame degree of feehng in 

 the horfe's mouth, becaufe there is as much difference 

 in the degrees of feehng in men as there is in the 

 mouths of horfes. 



I fuppofe then a man, who is not only capable to 

 judge of a horfe's mouth by theory, but who has 

 likewife by nature that finenefs of touch which helps 

 to form a good hand; let us fee then what are the 

 rules which v/e fhould follow in order to make it per- 

 fed^ and by which we mufl dired ail its operations. 



A horfe can move four different ways; he can ad- 

 vcinccy go hack, turn to the Right and to tht Left; but 

 he cannot make thefe different movements except the 

 hand of the Rider permits him, by making four other 

 motions which anfwer to them ; fo that there are 

 five different pofitions for the hand. The hrft is 

 that general pohtion from which proceed the other 

 four. 



Hold your hand three inches breadth from your 

 body, as high as your elbow, in fuch a manner that 

 the joint of your little-tinger be upon a right line with 

 the tip of your elbow ; let your wrifh be fufhciently 

 rounded fo that your knuckles may be kept diredly 

 above the neck of your horfe ; let your finger nails 

 be exadly oppofite your body, the little finger rather 

 rearer to it than the others ; your thumb quite flat 

 upon the reins, feparated as before defcribed, and 

 this is the <ieneral Pofitioiu 



Does 



