EQUITATION AND HORSE TRAINING. 83 



Considered separately, each rein can produce four im- 

 portant and distinct effects: 



(1 ) Front to rear effect. — The rider pulls on the two reins 

 alike, without pressing them on the neck and without 

 opening the wrists. If the horse is moving, he will 

 decrease the gait or halt; if the horse is halted, he will 

 move backward. 



(2) Opening effect. — The rider opens the right rein by- 

 carrying the wrist to the front and right. The horse's 

 head will be drawn to the right and he will move in that 

 direction. This is the direct rein. 



(3) Bearing or 'pushing effect. — By pressing the left rein 

 against the neck, the mass (forehand) is pushed to the 

 right and the horse faces in that direction — this is the 

 indirect rein, sometimes called the supporting rein.^ 



(4) Opposing effect. — The rider opens the right rein 

 lightly and then pulls either in the direction of the right 

 haunch or in the direction of the left haunch. He is then 

 said to set the shoulders in opposition to the haunches. 

 The rein of opposition comes to the aid of the leg on the 

 same side when the latter's action is insufficient or in- 

 complete. 



« In the United States Cavalry Drill Regulations a horse is described 

 as '^rein wise when he obeys the lightest pressure of the rein on either 

 side of the neck, the bit not being disturbed from its normal position. '* 

 It is to be noted that the horse has learned to obey this pressure (third 

 effect) through its association with the opening of the leading rein, as 

 prescribed in paragraph 216, Drill Regulations (second effect). When 

 the rider uses the direct or leading rein, there must be sufficient tension 

 on the other rein to prevent the bit from "being disturbed from its 

 normal position," and the other rein (la rene oppos^e) is also pressed 

 against the neck to support the action of the direct rein. In general, 

 there must be combined action of the reins just as there must be com- 

 bined action of the legs (see "Unison of the legs, in the next question), 

 and this fact should be kept in view in the discussion of the distinct 

 effects produced by the reins. The text reads: " Considered separately, 

 each rein, etc.," which might be erroneously construed as "Each rein, 

 acting alone, etc." — The Board. 



