82 Of the Hand. 



of it over the forefingers, where they are held 

 down by the thumbs. 



When the snaffle is held in the common way, 

 both reins are placed in the left hand. The left 

 rein passes under the little finger and the right 

 under the third finger, both lying smooth through 

 the hand, the superfluous quantity of rein hanging 

 over the first joint of the forefinger, and the thumb 

 placed upon it. 



To convey to the pupil an idea of the manner 

 in which the hand operates on the horse's mouth, 

 she should be placed on a horse whose mouth is 

 perfectly formed and obedient, but not too deli- 

 cate ; the reins being held as described ; the hand 

 placed so that the ends of the fingers are opposite 

 to the centre of the body, and about the height 

 of the elbow : the reins collected to such deter- 

 mined length, that, bracing the muscles of the 

 hand, would rein the horse back ; and easing them, 

 permit the horse freely to advance. The hand, 

 for preserving a medium effect on the mouth, 

 should be only half shut ; — the knuckles next the 

 wrist being nearly open. 



I. The hand being connected to the reins, the 

 reins to the bit, the bit operating in the curb on 

 the bars in the horse's mouth, and in the snaffle 

 on the lip, the rider cannot move the hand, nor 



