286 CONFESSIONS OF A HOliSE DKALEtt. 



absurd idea, for it not only destroys the confidence of 

 the pupil, and renders, what should be a pleasure, a 

 positive and dangerous task, but often causes them, to 

 give up the idea of learning to ride in despair. 



My plan is to select a quiet horse for the opening 

 lessons of a pupil ; and the first instructions will be to 

 teach him to mount without stirrups. 



The pupil will stand on the near (left) side of his 

 horse, and with the fore-finger and thumb of the right 

 hand take hold of the middle of the bridle-rein, and 

 raise it up until he has a light and equal feel on the 

 horse's mouth. He will then divide the reins, by placing 

 the little finger of the left hand through them, and then 

 bringing the spare part through the hand over the fore- 

 finger. Grasp the hand, placing the thumb on the 

 reins, which will keep them in their place, and prevent 

 them from slipping thus a kind of slide is formed of 

 the hand, which, by taking hold of the middle of the 

 rein, as before described, and relaxing the grasp a little, 

 enables the pupil to slide the hand up and down, and 

 shorten or lengthen the reins at pleasure, in an easy 

 and gradual manner, which is a very important matter 

 in horsemanship, especially with a light- mouthed irri- 

 table horse. The pupil having placed his bridle-hand 

 properly on the reins, will quit the hold with his right 

 hand, throwing the spare part of the reins over the 

 horse's neck to the off (right) side, and with his right 

 he will take a lock of the mane, and wrap it twice 

 round the thumb of the bridle-hand, which will then 



