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peratlons (hould be gentle and liglit, and in order to 

 this, it is neceflary that the Wrist alone (hould diredt 

 and govern all its motions> by turning and (leering 

 it as it were, through every motion it is to make 



In confcquence then of thefe principles, I infift 

 that the wrift be kept fo round that your knuckles 

 may be always diredly above the horfe's neck, and 

 that your thumb be always kept flat upon the 

 reins. In reality were your wrift to be more or lefs 

 rounded than in the degree I have fixed, you could 

 never work with your hand but by means of your 

 arm, and befides it would appear as though you were 

 lame ; again were your thumb not to be upon the 

 flat of the reins, prefled hard upon your fore finger, 

 they would be conftantly flipping away, and length- 

 ened, and in order to recover them you would be 

 obliged every minute to raife your hand and arm, 

 which would throw you into diforder and make you 

 lofe that juftnefs without which no horfe will be 

 obedient and work with readinefs and pleafure to 

 himfelf. 



It is neverthelefs true, that with horfeswell drefl^ed 

 one may take liberties; thefe are motions called 

 defcentsofthehand; either by dropping the knuckles 

 diredly and at once upon the horfe's neck, or by 

 taking the reins in the right hand about four inches 

 above the left, letting them Aide through the left, 

 dropping your right hand at the fame time upon the 

 horfe' s neck, or elfe by putting the horfe under the 

 button as it is called : that is by taking the end of 

 the reins in your right hand, quitting them intirely 

 with your left hand and letting the end of them fall 

 upon your horfe's neck, thefe motions however, 

 which give grace to the horfeman, never (liould be 



made 



