330 THE H0K8E, 



This method of holding the reins, when riding with one 

 hand, is invariable ; tliough the position of the hands must ne- 

 cessarily be varied, at times, and the nails may be held perpen- 

 dicularly and inward, with the forefinger and thumb upward, 

 instead of horizontally or downward. 



In galloping hard, or riding across country, especially with 

 a hard-pulling horse, or one that throws his head from side to 

 side, it is often well to separate the reins, between the two 

 hands ; which may be held nearer or farther apart, as the cir- 

 cumstances of the case may require. 



In such cases, one snaffle and one curb rein is held in each 

 hand ; the former between the middle and fourth fingers, the 

 latter outside the little fingers, the ends brought out upward 

 and held securely, as before, between the thumb and forefinger. 

 This gives the greatest attainable power of control, and allows 

 the exercise of the greatest force on the horse, by an upward 

 and backward pull, assisted by thrusting the weight of the body 

 into the stirrups, by straightening the knee and keeping the 

 heel well down. 



In teaching a horse, it is often well to divide the reins 

 otherwise; holding the snaffle reins in the left hand, as directed 

 above, and the curb reins in the right, the former to regulate 

 pace and control the animal, the latter to give the proper posi- 

 tion and flexures to the head and neck, and to direct the mo- 

 tions of the limbs. 



The methods of doing this will be given hereafter. The fol- 

 lowing admirable directions, as to the mode of acquiring dif- 

 ferent styles of seats and the uses and modifications of such, are 

 from an excellent English horse-writer, known by tlie nom de 

 plume of " Harry Hieover." I have slightly modified them, in 

 some places, where they contain local allusions, which are not 

 readily understood or appreciated by the American reader ; 

 and, that done, I fully endorse and recommend them to my 

 friends, as the most practical and comprehensive in the world. 

 It will be seen, that they relate, in some considerable degree, to 

 English across-country riding ; but this is no disadvantage to 

 the American reader, or puj^il, even if he never intend to leap 

 a fence, or ride to a hound, as long as he live. 



Since the hunting seat is undeniably the best, the strongest 



