The Curb, Etc. 61 



&c. The left rein of the bridoon or snaffle then 

 passes through the hand, laying smooth on the 

 left rein of the bit or curb, with the thumb, as 

 before observed, placed on it ; and the right rein 

 hangs loose. 



The more usual method of holding the reins is 

 that wherein the little finger separates the curb 

 reins, and the second finger the bridoon reins. 



SHIFTING THE REINS. 



This should be done expertly without stopping 

 the horse, altering his pace, breaking the time, or 

 looking to the hands. 



When the snaffle reins are held in one hand, 

 the method of shifting from the left hand into the 

 right is as follows. 



Turn the thumbs toward each other, carry the 

 right hand over the left, put the forefinger of the 

 right hand downwards between the reins in the 

 place of the little finger of the left hand, and lay 

 the reins smoothly through the right hand. 



By this means the forefinger separates the left 

 reins from the right ; the superfluous reins hang 

 downwards through the hand; and the thumb 

 presses the left reins between the first and second 

 joint of the forefinger. 

 6 



