The modes of guiding the horse are called aids, because they not only
direct, but assist him to execute. They also check him in acting
contrarily. These aids are certain positions of the hand, body, legs,
and sometimes of the switch or whip. The hand is so far the principal
of these, that the others are sometimes called accompaniments, as only
giving power and efficacy to the hand.
_Aids of the Hand._
A horse can move four different ways--forward, to the right, to the
left, and backward; but he cannot perform these motions unless the hand
of the rider makes four corresponding motions. There are accordingly
five different positions for the hand, including the general one from
which the other four proceed.
_The five Positions when one Rein is held in each Hand._
In the first position, the reins pass up between the third and fourth
fingers of each hand, their ends are thrown over the fore-fingers, the
thumbs are closed on them, and the fingers are shut:--the hands being
held as already described in treating of the seat. The second position
consists of a slight relaxation of the preceding, and permits the horse
to advance. The third position shortens the right rein rather upward,
and turns the horse to the right. The fourth position shortens the left
rein rather upward, and turns the horse to the left; and the fifth
position shortens both reins, and stops or reins the horse backwards.
_The five Positions when the Reins are held in one Hand._
The aids of the hand, as forming these positions, when the reins are
held in one hand, may be very simply given by a little extending, or
bending the wrist, to make the horse advance, or go backward,--and by
slightly carrying the hand to the right or to the left, and in both
cases rather upward, to make the horse turn in these directions.
_The Twistings of the Bridle Hand._
Several modifications of the rules already given occur. We do not,
however, approve of these positions, as they, in a great measure,
reverse and destroy the natural aids of the hand, by leaving the
right rein slack in the turn to the right, and the left rein slack
in the turn to the left. Indeed, they could not possibly be obeyed
by the horse, were it not that, on this point, he seems to have more
understanding than his rider, and draws his conclusions as to the
latter’s intentions, not from the inconsistent action of his hand,
but from the more natural accompanying aids of his body and legs.
Fortunately, however, these twistings of the bridle hand, though always
taught, are, we believe, rarely practised.
We give these positions here, only in compliance with custom.
In the first position the under surface of the fore-arm and hand forms
a horizontal line from the elbow to the joint of the little finger; the
elbow is lightly closed to the hips; the wrist is rounded; the knuckles
are kept directly above the neck of the horse, the hand being at three
inches from the body, and as much from the pommel of the saddle; the
nails are turned towards the body, the little finger being nearer to it
than the others; the reins, in entering the hand, are separated by the
little finger; and the thumb is placed flat upon them as they pass out
over the fore-finger.
In the second position the hand is yielded to the horse by turning
the nails downward, so as to carry the thumb nearer the body, and the
little finger further from it, yet somewhat obliquely, for the thumb
passes nearly into the place where the knuckles were in the first
position, the nails being now directly above the horse’s neck. This
permits the horse to advance.
In the third position the hand, leaving the first, is turned upside
down, so that the thumb is carried out to the left, and the little
finger brought into the right. This carries the operation of the reins
nearly three inches more to the right, by which the left reins press
the neck, the right reins are slack, and the horse is turned to the
right.
In the fourth position the hand, leaving the first, the back is turned
upward, so that the little finger is carried out to the left, and the
thumb brought in to the right. This carries the operation of the reins
to the left, by which the right reins press the neck, the left reins
are slack, and the horse is turned to the left.
In the fifth position, quitting the first, the wrist is rounded, the
nails turned upwards, and the knuckles towards the horse’s neck. This
stops him, or compels him to go backward.
These aids, however, when the reins are held in one hand, are not so
effective as those where the reins are separate.
_Aids of the Body._
To aid the second position of the hand, and cause the horse to advance,
the body may be thrown a little forward, but not so as to press
heavily on his fore-parts. To aid the third and fourth positions of
the hand, a mere turn of the body is sufficient.--Thus, in entering
an angle, it is only necessary to turn the body imperceptibly toward
the corner, just as if the rider intended to go into it himself; his
body then turning to the right or left, his hand must necessarily turn
likewise, and the leg of the side on which he turns will infallibly
press against the horse, and aid him. In coming out of a corner, it is
only necessary to turn the body again, the hand will follow it, and the
other leg, approaching the horse, will put his croupe into the corner,
in such a manner that it will follow the shoulders, and be upon the
same line.--The same motion of the body is likewise necessary to turn
entirely to the right or left. To aid the fifth position of the hand,
and make the horse go backward, the body must be thrown gently back,
and the hand will go with it.
_Aids of the Legs._
To aid the second position of the hand, and make the horse advance, the
legs must be closed. Even when a horse stands still, the legs held near
him will keep him on the watch, and with the slightest upward motion of
the bridle, he will raise his head and show his forehead to advantage.
To aid the third position of the hand, and turn to the right, the right
leg must determine the croupe to the left, and facilitate the action
of the shoulder, which the hand had turned to the right. To aid the
fourth position of the hand, and turn to the left, the left leg must
determine the croupe to the right. In making a change to the right, the
left leg confines the croupe, so that it must follow the shoulders. In
changing again to the left, the right leg acts similarly. To aid the
fifth position of the hand, and stop the horse, while he is held in,
the legs must be gently brought to the sides.
The aids of the legs have their degrees progressively increasing,
thus:--the leg being brought nearer the side is the lightest; placing
the leg further back, with the toe turned out, is the next; a touch
with the calf of the leg, is the third; a stroke with it, having the
toe kept up firmly, that the muscles of the leg may be hard, is the
fourth; and the strongest is the scratch, which, when the legs are laid
on hard without effect, is given by dropping the toe, when, if the spur
be properly placed, the rowel will scratch the horse’s side, and this
is succeeded by giving the spur sharply. Aids with the whip are also
used to give greater effect to the heel. These are gentle taps on the
hind quarters, and sometimes on the shoulders. When given on the near
side, the hand is either applied behind the back, with the whip held
by the fingers like a pen, the lash being downwards, or across the
bridle-hand before, the whip being held with the lash upwards.