46 HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP 



the unexpected difficulty. But look back for a 

 moment to the other drawing (No. 13) of the rider 

 landing correctly, and it will be seen that he is in a 

 position to help his horse immediately, no matter 

 what happens. 



Directly we lengthen our reins we lose control, 

 and we must lengthen our reins if we lean the body 

 back on landing over a fence. Our object should 

 be to keep our reins at that length which alone 

 gives control, and to keep them at that length 

 until different conditions prevail. 



So that when training the young horseman it is 

 not enough to say " Prepare to trot " to w^arn him 

 to shorten his reins, but to this should be added 

 " Prepare to jump," when he should be instructed 

 to shorten his reins still further, until his hands are 

 alongside his horse's neck in a similar position to 

 that shown in picture No. 11. This is the only 

 way to insure the correct position of the body being 

 maintained, but as this chapter is on reins, I will 

 defer discussing the position of the body imtil 

 the next chapter. 



When riding keen and excitable horses, who 

 often snatch at the bridle, or " yaw," or, generally, 

 do those things which make the reins slip through 

 one's fingers, I have found it most helpful to have 

 a special bridle made with very short reins. I 

 make them short enough so as to be able, when 

 cantering, and when the horse is " bridling," to be 

 able to hold them in the palm of the hand without 

 any " slack," and yet be able to have a comfort- 

 able " feel " on the horse's mouth. When jumping, 



