CHANGING THE REINS. 163 



held as in Fig. 158, or Fig. 163, we may, in order to shorten 

 them, simply draw the hands apart, while the hold of the first, 

 second and third fingers of the hands on their respective reins 

 is loosened, and that of the little fingers is tightened on the 

 free part of the reins, which action will naturally cause the 

 hands to slide forward on the reins. When the proper 

 length has been obtained, the first, second and third fingers 

 of each hand should close on their respective reins. The 

 hands should then be brought together into their original 

 position ; the slack of the near rein being allowed to slip 

 through the right hand, and the slack of the off rein through 

 the left. This method is specially applicable to our purpose 

 when we are obliged to shorten the reins, and desire at the 

 same time to interfere as little as possible with the horse's 

 mouth. 



CHANGING THE REINS FROM TWO HANDS INTO ONE HAND. 

 As the reins have to be held a little shorter in one hand 

 than in two, we may change them by shortening them with 

 the hand in which we wish to hold them. Thus, to change 

 into the right hand, reins which are held as in Fig. 158, we 

 may take hold of them as in Fig. 166 ; close the fingers of the 

 right hand ; and let go the left hand. Or we may pass the 

 rein or reins held by one hand into the other hand without 

 any previous shortening. Double reins may be shifted 

 into one hand in the same manner. 



CHANGING THE REINS FROM ONE HAND INTO TWO 

 HANDS. 



Supposing that the left hand holds both reins, either single 

 or double crossed, we may take up the off reins with the right 

 hand, so as to hold them in the manner shown respectively 

 by Figs. 157 and 158, and by Figs. 161, 162, and 163. 



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