THE HORSE. 177 



hand three fingers breadth from your body, as high 

 as your elbow, in such manner that the joint of your 

 little finger be upon a right line with the tip of the 

 elbow; let your wrist be sufficiently rounded, that 

 your knuckles may be kept directly above the neck 

 of the horse ,* let your nails be exactly opposite your 

 body, the little finger nearer to it than the others ; 

 your thumb quite flat upon the reins, which you 

 must separate by putting your little finger between 

 them, the right rein lying upon it : this is the first 

 and general position. 



" Does your horse go forward ; or rather, would 

 you have him go forward ? yield to him your hand, 

 and for that purpose, turn your nails downward in 

 such manner as to bring your thumb near your body * 

 remove your little finger from it, and bring it into the 

 place where your knuckles were in the first position ; 

 keeping your nails directly above your horse's neck : 

 this is the second position. 



" Would you make your horse go backward ? quit 

 the first position ; let your wrist be quite round ; let 

 your thumb be in the place of the little finger in the 

 second position, and the little finger in that of the 

 thumb; turn your nails quite upward, and towards 

 your face, and your knuckles will be towards your 

 horse's neck : this is the third position. 



" Would you turn your horse to the right ? leave 

 the first position, carry your nails to the right, turn- 

 ing your hand upside down, in such manner that 

 your thumb be carried out to the left, and the little 

 finger brought unto the right : this is the fourth 

 position. 



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