MODERN FARRIER. 189 



It may next be recommended to hold your bridle 

 at a convenient length. Sit square, and let not the 

 purchase of the bridle pull forward your shoulder ; 

 but keep your body even, as it would be if each 

 hand held a rein. Hold your reins with the whole 

 grasp of your hand, dividing them with your little 

 finger. Let your hand be perpendicular ; your 

 thumb will then be uppermost, and placed on the 

 bridle. Bend your wrist a little outw^ard; and 

 when you pull the bridle, raise your band toward 

 your breast, and the lower part of the palm rather 

 more than the upper. Let the bridle be at such a 

 length in your hand, as, if the horse should stumble, 

 you may be able to raise his head, and support it by 

 the strength of your arms, and the weight of your 

 body thrown backward. If you hold the rein too 

 long, you are subject to fall backwards as your horse 

 rises. 



If, knowing your horse perfectly well, you think 

 a tight rein unnecessary, advance your arm a little 

 {but not your shoulder) towards the horse's head, 

 and keep your usual length of rein. By this means 

 you have a check upon your horse while you in- 

 dulge him. 



If you ride with a curb, make it a rule to hook 

 on the chain yourself; the most quiet horse may 

 bring his rider into danger, should the curb hurt 

 iiim. If, in fixing the curb, you turn the chain to 

 the right, the links will unfold themselves, and then 

 oppose a farther turning. Put on the chain loose 

 enough to hang down on the horse's under lip, so 

 that it may not rise and press his jaw, till the reins 

 of the bridle are moderately pulled. 



If your horse has been used to stand still when he 

 is mounted, there will be no occasion for a groom to 

 hold him ; but if he does, suffer him not to touch 

 the reins, but that part of the bridle which comes 

 down the cheek of the horse. He cannot then in- 

 terfere with the management of the reins, which 



