SLACK REINS. 227 



side, and a pressure on the neck to turn them to the other 

 side. 



The rein which presses on the neck during the turn in one- 

 handed riding, has two distinct actions ; for while pressing on 

 the neck, it also inclines the horse's head more or less away 

 from the side to which the turn is being made by its pull 

 on the opposite side of the mouth. This action of the rein 

 on the mouth is permissible only at the canter and gallop 

 (pages 22 and 23). 



13. The arms (including the hands) should work indepen- 

 dently of the body, and each arm should work independently 

 of the other arm, although at times their action may be 

 similar. Each hand has its own special work to do, and 

 consequently the reins should not be held like an oar with 

 which a man steers a boat. 



" GOOD HANDS." 



We may see that the idea of " good hands " being the 

 sole means for collecting, restraining, and guiding a horse, is 

 wrong ; because the hands are only one of several means (aids) 

 by which this object is attained. The possession of a strong 

 seat is indispensable for the correct application of the aids, 

 which cannot be used with precision, if the rider hangs on by 

 the reins or rolls about in the saddle. 



RIDING WITH SLACK REINS. 



When a rider has to trust entirely to the honour of his 

 mount to bear him safely out of difficulty, he ought as a rule to 

 ride more or less with loose reins, so that he may not bring 

 both to grief by undue interference with the animal's mouth. 



Stock-driving in the Colonies and pig-sticking in India 

 furnish us with instances of the necessity at times of riding 

 with the reins slack, which is a method that is practised at the 



