HOW TO HOLD THE REINS.
Principles--Holding Single Reins in Both Hands--Holding Single Reins in
One Hand--Holding Double Reins in Both Hands--Holding Double Reins
in One Hand--Shortening the Reins--Military Method of Holding the
Reins--Respective Merits of One-Handed and Two-Handed Riding.
As there is but little difference between the respective ways men and
women should use their reins, I have taken the most of this chapter from
_Riding and Hunting_.
PRINCIPLES.
The following are the usual principles to be observed in holding the
reins:--
1. A secure grip of the reins should be maintained, with as little
stiffness as possible, because stiffness implies continued muscular
contraction, and consequent defective manipulation from fatigue.
2. When both hands are used, we should hold the reins so that we can
freely use our hands, either separately or together, in any required
direction.
3. When both hands are used, the manner of holding the reins by one
hand should be the same as that by the other, so that the feeling of the
hands on the reins may be the same on both sides.
4. When a horse which has an "even" mouth is going in a straight
direction, the action of one rein should be the same as that of the
other rein.
[Illustration: Fig. 71.--A rein in each hand.]
HOLDING SINGLE REINS IN BOTH HANDS.
Pass the near rein between the little finger and the ring finger of the
left hand, bring it out between the forefinger and thumb, and take up
the off rein in the same manner in the right hand (Fig. 71). The reins
thus held will be in the best position for general use, especially as
the hands can then be readily separated, if we wish to turn the horse to
one side or the other.
[Illustration: Fig. 72.--Single reins crossed in one hand.]
[Illustration: Fig. 73.--Single reins crossed in one hand.]
HOLDING SINGLE REINS IN ONE HAND.
While holding the reins as in Fig. 71, pass the off rein into the left
hand between its forefinger and thumb, and across the portion of the
near rein that is in the palm of the left hand (Fig. 72). On letting go
the off rein with the right hand, we close the fingers of the left hand,
turn the left hand inwards, and let it fall from the wrist in an easy
manner (Fig. 73). When holding the reins in one hand, we should not keep
the knuckles in a vertical position, because, by doing so, one rein will
come up higher on the horse's neck than the other rein. On the contrary,
both in one-handed and two-handed riding, the knuckles should be held
more or less horizontally, as they would be when the hand is allowed to
fall without stiffness from the wrist.
[Illustration: Fig. 74.--Double reins held separately in two hands.]
Whether the reins are held in one hand or in two, we should avoid
"rounding the wrists," not only on account of the consequent stiffness
imparted to these joints, but also because that action tends to make us
carry the elbows outwards, and thus diminishes the force which the arms
are capable of exerting on the reins.
[Illustration: Fig. 75.--Holding double reins crossed in one hand.]
HOLDING DOUBLE REINS IN BOTH HANDS.
We may hold double reins in both hands in the same way as we hold single
reins, except that the little fingers separate the reins on each
respective side (Fig. 74). The question as to which rein should be on
the outside may be decided by the amount of control which is required
to be obtained over the horse; because, by the rotation of the hand, we
can work the outward rein more effectively than the inward rein. If the
snaffle is to be the predominant bit, its reins should be on the
outside, and the curb-reins slack.
HOLDING DOUBLE REINS IN ONE HAND.
The forefinger of the left hand separates the two off reins, the little
finger divides the two near ones, and the reins are crossed in the palm
of the hand (Fig. 75), as with single reins. It is convenient to have
the reins on which we want to have the stronger pull on the outside. If
the rider wishes to use only one rein, she may hold it crossed in her
hand, and may hook up the other on the middle finger, and let it loose
(Fig. 76), or draw it up to a greater or less extent.
[Illustration: Fig. 76.--Double reins in left hand: one crossed, the
other hooked up on middle finger.]
SHORTENING THE REINS.
In shortening the reins we should alter the feeling on them as little as
possible, and should carefully keep them at the same length, so as not
to interfere with the horse's mouth. If a rein is in each hand (Fig.
71), we had best pass the off rein into the left hand (Fig. 72); close
the left hand on both reins (Fig. 73); slip the right hand forward on
the off rein till the proper length is obtained; take up both reins in
the right hand; let go the slack of the reins with the left hand; take
up the near rein with the left hand; and separate the hands.
[Illustration: Fig. 77.--Reins held in one hand in military fashion.]
If the reins are held in one hand (the left, for instance), take them up
in the right hand; slip the left hand forward on the near rein; and,
when the desired length is obtained, take up both reins with the left
hand.
MILITARY METHOD OF HOLDING THE REINS.
In almost all riding schools, ladies are taught to hold the reins in
military fashion, which enacts that they should be held in the left
hand, with the little finger dividing them, and their ends brought up
between the finger and thumb (Fig. 77). Thus, the hold on the reins is
chiefly maintained by the lateral pressure of the fingers and by the
downward pressure of the thumb on them. As the muscles which draw the
fingers laterally together, are far weaker than the muscles which cause
the hand to become clenched, it follows that this method of holding the
reins is much less secure and a good deal more tiring than the crossed
plan (Fig. 73), which has the further advantage of utilising the
friction between the opposing surfaces of leather. This method is also
unsuitable for two-handed riding, because it violates the principle laid
down on pages 136 and 137, that the manner of holding the reins by one
hand should be the same as that by the other hand (compare Figs. 71 and
78).
[Illustration: Fig. 78.--Off rein taken up by right hand from position
shown in Fig. 77.]
RESPECTIVE MERITS OF ONE-HANDED AND TWO-HANDED RIDING.
All good horsewomen, especially when out hunting, ride with both hands
on the reins, because, even with the quietest animal, the two hands may
be needed for control or guidance. Besides, an even feeling on the reins
when they are held in one hand, can be maintained only by keeping the
hand in the centre-line of the horse's body, which is naturally a more
or less irksome task for the rider. With only one hand on the reins, the
rider's available strength is reduced by nearly one-half, and the reins
have to be held much shorter than if both hands were on them. One-handed
riding is all right for military men, who have to wield a sword or
lance, and polo players, who have to use a polo-stick, but it is
ridiculous for ladies.