MILITARY METHOD. 165 



downward pressure of the thumb on them. As the muscles 

 which draw the fingers laterally together (the adductor muscles 

 of the fingers) are far weaker than the muscles which cause 

 the hand to become clenched (the flexor muscles of the 

 fingers); it follows that the military method of holding the 

 reins is much less secure and a good deal more tiring than 

 the "crossed" one-handed plan (Fig. 160), which also has the 

 advantage of utilising the friction between the opposing sur- 

 faces of leather. Besides, with only the little finger separating 

 the reins, one rein can be made shorter than the other rein, 

 only by about three quarters of an inch, so that the direct 

 lateral indication of the rein is practically nil. The only good 



Fig. 167. Reins held in one hand in military fashion. 



point about our military method of holding the reins, as far as 

 I can see, is that it enables the rider to readily shorten the 

 reins with the fore finger and thumb of the right hand, the 

 other fingers of which are supposed to be occupied with the 

 sabre or lance. 



This method is unsuitable to two-handed riding ; for when 

 the horseman uses both hands, he is obliged to lengthen out 

 the off rein, in order to get an even feeling on both reins, as in 

 Fig. 168. If he has now to quit the reins with the right hand, 

 as for instance when he is about to use the whip, he cannot 

 take up the reins in the left hand in the same prompt and 

 secure manner as he could by the crossed method. It is 

 evident that any " fumbling " with the reins when they 



