Pupils, during their first lessons, may arrange the reins in the
following manner:--The right hand is removed from the crutch of the
saddle; the reins are separated, and one is held in each hand, passing
up between the third and fourth fingers, the ends being brought over the
fore-fingers, and held in their places by closing the thumbs upon them,
and shutting the hands: these should be on a level with each other, at a
little distance apart, three inches from the body, or thereabouts, with
the knuckles of the little fingers in a line with the elbow. By slightly
advancing the hands, or even relaxing the hold of the reins, the horse,
if well trained, will go forward. The left hand is raised to turn to the
near or left side, and the right hand to turn in an opposite direction.
By slightly raising and approaching both hands toward the body, the
horse may be made to stop. When either rein is acted on, to turn the
horse, the other should be a little slackened, or the hand which holds
it relaxed.
As soon as the pupil has passed her noviciate in the art, she holds both
reins in the left hand. Some ladies separate them by the third and
fourth fingers; others, by one of these fingers only; and many, by the
fourth and little finger: but the greater number use the latter alone
for this purpose, passing the off or right rein over it, and bringing
the near or left rein up beneath it. The reins are carried flat upon
each other up through the hand, near the middle joint of the
fore-finger, and the thumb is placed upon them so that their ends fall
down in front of the knuckles. The elbow should neither be squeezed
close to the side, nor thrust out into an awkward and unnatural
position; but be carried easily and gracefully, at a moderate distance
from the body. The thumb should be uppermost, and the hand so placed
that the lower part of it be nearer the waist than the upper; the wrist
should be slightly rounded, the little finger in a line with the elbow,
and the nails turned towards the rider.
With the reins in this position, the lady, if she wish her horse to
advance, brings her thumb towards her, until the knuckles are uppermost,
and the nails over the horse's shoulder: the reins, by this simple
motion, are slackened sufficiently to permit him to move forward. After
he is put in motion, the rider's hand should return to the first
position, gradually; or it may be slightly advanced, and the thumb
turned upwards immediately.
To direct a horse to the left, let the thumb, which in the first
position is uppermost, be turned to the right, the little finger to the
left, and the back of the hand brought upwards. This movement is
performed in a moment, and it will cause the left rein to hang slack,
while the right is tightened so as to press against the horse's neck.
To direct the horse to the right, the hand should quit the first
position, the nails be turned upwards, the little finger brought in
towards the right, and the thumb moved to the left: the left rein will
thus press the neck, while the right one is slackened.
To stop the horse, or make him back, the nails should be turned, from
the first position, upwards, the knuckles be reversed, and the wrist be
rounded as much as possible.
[Illustration]