THE REASONED EQUITATION 



There are three principal methods of crossing 

 the four reins in one hand. 



According to the first of these, the rider, as soon 

 as mounted, takes the extremities of the snaffle 

 reins in his right hand and places them upon the 

 middle of the horse's neck. He next takes in his 

 right hand the two reins of the bit, also by their 

 ends, and, lifting his hand, gives these a moderate 

 tension. He now places his left hand over these two 

 reins, his little finger between them, and grips them 

 with all four fingers. The free ends pass out 

 between the forefinger and the thumb, which closes 

 on them, and fall to the left side of the hand. 

 Finally, the rider picks up the snaffle reins with his 

 right hand and raises them in front of the left. His 

 left hand thereupon looses its grip with the three 

 upper fingers, but, still holding with the fourth, 

 passes the middle finger between the two snaffle 

 reins, and shuts the thumb against the free ends of 

 both pairs. 



For the second method, the rider, as before, lays 

 the snaffle reins on the horse's neck, lifts the bit 

 reins with his right hand, and grasps them with his 

 left. In this case, however, both the third and the 

 fourth finger separate the two bit reins. He next 

 takes the two snaffle reins in his right hand, and 

 passes them between the first finger and the thumb 

 of his left hand, bringing them out below the little 

 finger. The thumb, as before, shuts upon all four 

 reins. 



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