THE HANDLING OF THE REINS 



According to the third method, the left rein of 

 either the bit or the snaffle is placed below the little 

 finger, and the left rein of either the snaffle or the 

 bit passes between the fourth finger and the third. 

 The right rein of the snaffle or of the bit is between 

 the third finger and the second, and the right rein 

 of bit or snaffle is between the second finger and the 

 first. Thus a finger separates each two adjacent 

 reins. 



One last manipulation of the reins remains to be 

 considered the ancient practice of jerking the bit. 



The old school of equitation recognized this 

 action as a means of controlling a disobedient, 

 restive, or vicious animal. At that epoch only 

 stallions were ridden; and the character of the 

 riders had to match their mounts. Pluvinel, de la 

 Broue, and Grisons recommend that, in case a horse 

 refuses to turn to the right or left, to change from 

 gallop to trot, or from trot to walk, or to stop, the 

 rider should "give him several sharp jerks against 

 the mouth; and in the mean time call him with a 

 strong voice, ' Pig ! ' ' Cow ! * ' Scoundrel ! ' ' Coward ! ' 

 'Felon!'" a complete vocabulary of epithets not 

 understood by three quarters of humankind. 



Of course these excellent masters did really 

 produce the effects they desired; but it was by the 

 sound of the voice, not by the epithets. Moreover, 

 the jerk on the bit cannot have any other result 

 than to destroy the animal's understanding of the 

 effects of the bit by making him fear the pain. 



103 



