MOUNTING. 



especially as no horse in the hands of a good horse- 

 man is now tightly girthed. 



When he is mounted, the proper adjustment of 

 his reins is the next thing to be attended to. If a 

 single-rein bridle, he has nothing to do but to draw 

 the reins with his right hand through his left, till 

 he finds he has got hold of his horse's mouth equally 

 on both sides of it, when he shuts the left hand, 

 letting the little finger separate the two reins. The 

 same should be done with a double-rein bridle, only 

 observing, as they are drawn through the hand, 

 that the horse's mouth is to be consulted, as to 

 whether that attached to the bridoon or to the bit is 

 the one required to be first acted upon. Many an 

 inexperienced horseman has met with accidents 

 from want of a proper discrimination as to the right 

 use of the reins, when mounted on high-spirited 

 horses, with finely made, that is to say, highly sus- 

 ceptible mouths, and unused to a rough hand. The 

 bridle reins should be held at a convenient length ; 

 for, if short, they will discompose the attitude of 

 the body, by pulling the left shoulder forward; 

 and they should be held with a firm grasp, dividing 

 them, as before mentioned, with the little finger. 

 When a horse pulls at his rider, he should advance 

 his arm a little, but not the shoulder, towards the 

 horse's head, raising his hand towards his breast, 

 and the lower part of the palm rather than the 

 upper ; but he should not shorten the rein in his 

 hand, if he can command his horse without it, or 

 he may lose the proper appui^ or bearing of his 

 mouth. Old writers recommend the bridle-hand 



