70 The Reins. 



As soon as the pupil has passed her noviciate in 

 the art, she holds both reins in the left hand. 

 Some ladies separate them by the third and fourth 

 fingers ; others by one of these fingers only ; and 

 many, by the fourth and little finger : but the 

 greater number use the latter alone for this pur- 

 pose, passing the off or right rein over it, and 

 bringing the near or left rein up beneath it. The 

 reins are carried flat upon each other up through 

 the hand, near the middle joint of the forefinger, 

 and the thumb is placed upon them so that their 

 ends fall down in front of the knuckles. The 

 elbow should neither be squeezed close to the side, 

 nor thrust out into an awkward and unnatural 

 position ; but be carried easily and gracefully, at 

 a moderate distance from the body. The thumb 

 should be uppermost, and the hand so placed that 

 the lower part of it be nearer the waist than the 

 upper ; the wrist should be slightly rounded, the 

 little finger in a line with the elbow, and nails 

 turned towards the rider. 



With the reins in this position, the lady, if she 

 wish her horse to advance, brings her thumb to- 

 wards her, until the knuckles are uppermost, and 

 the nails over the horse's shoulder : the reins, by 

 this simple motion, are slackened sufficiently to 

 permit him to move forward. After he is put in 



