FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



the right hand, and drawing it back, making 

 the rein thereby short enough to accomplish the 

 intended turn, and confining it between the 

 thumb and finger or the other fingers, according 

 to which rein you loop. This loop is let gradu- 

 ally slip as your curve is made, and you desire 

 your team to resume straight going. " Opposi- 

 tion loops" are similarly made upon the opposite 

 wheel rein in order to keep your wheelers in 

 their place, to prevent their following the leaders 

 too directly, and to insure describing the graceful 

 curve you aim to accomplish. These loopings, 

 direct point and opposition, are made in the same 

 way when the reins are held in any one of the 

 several other methods. In one of these the nigh 

 lead goes over the forefinger ; the nigh wheel 

 and the off wheel between the first and second 

 fingers, the nigh rein on top, and the off" lead 

 between the second and third fingers. This 

 method separates the two lead reins by a wide 

 margin, and quite sharp angles can be made and 

 corners turned without any looping, or touching 

 the reins with the right, if the wrist is carried 

 right or left, and the knuckles or the palm turned 

 up or down, as the case demands. The ofF-lead 

 rein crosses the ofF-wheel rein close to the toe- 



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