HUNTING THE FOX 107 



with clips to fix on to the rings of the snaffle, a 

 strong surcingle with a ring set on low down on 

 either side, and a pair of reins about eight yards 

 long made of webbing with loops at the ends. 

 The offside rein should pass from the snaffle ring 

 through the ring on the surcingle, and be brought 

 round just above the hocks to the right hand of 

 the driver, whose proper place is on the nearside of 

 the horse, a few feet to the rear. The nearside 

 rein should pass straight from the ring of the 

 snaffle to the left hand of the driver, who should 

 never let go of the loop, even if he has to shorten 

 the rein. He is now at the apex of a triangle, of 

 which the horse forms the base and the two reins 

 the sides. He can drive his horse either straight 

 ahead or in a circle, taking care to keep the right 

 hand low down so as to prevent the offside rein 

 from getting over the horse's back. This rein will 

 be kept in its place by the ring on the surcingle. If 

 by any chance the offside rein does get over the 

 horse's back, or if he gets into a tangle of any 

 kind, all he has to do is to loose this rein at once, 

 and cling for dear life to the nearside rein, so that 

 he will pull the horse's head towards him, and 

 save the situation. If the driver can keep his 

 own head as well as the horse's head, this practice 

 ought never to fail. As soon as the young horse is 

 accustomed to being handled in this manner, he 

 should be invited to jump small places and blind 



