CH. XIV POINTS TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT 313 



right hand about seven inches in front of the left 

 hand (Fig. 138), and looping it at that point under 

 the thumb, holding it there (Fig. 139) until the leaders 

 have got straight in the new direction, and then 

 letting the loop slip gradually until the rein is 

 straightened out into its original position. 



In turning to the right, the off lead-rein is taken 

 in the same way (Figs. 140, 141), and looped be- 

 tween the first and second finger and afterward al- 

 lowed to slip through. If this rein is put under the 

 thumb, the last part of the loop will snap out with 

 a jerk, but from under the first finger it slides out 

 smoothly, since it is all the time in the space in which 

 it belongs. 



The length of rein taken up to make the point 

 depends upon the sharpness of the turn and the 

 promptness with which the team responds to the 

 rein. In turning an accustomed corner, horses re- 

 quire a very slight hint ; but for a very sharp turn, 

 especially if it is less than a right angle, or, as it is 

 sometimes called, a back corner, it is well to take, 

 first a small point to intimate to the leaders what is 

 expected of them, and then to increase the point 

 a few seconds later. 



In making a point, the left hand must not go for- 

 ward to meet the right, but the right must come all 

 the way back to the left, for the reason that the 

 forwarding of the left hand lets the wheelers rush 

 forward just at the moment when they should go 

 steadily round the turn. 



