ON THE REINS, &c.
The author most particularly wishes to impress upon his readers the
value of riding with DOUBLE REINS for safety sake, and in order to avoid
the numerous accidents arising from reins breaking, the tongues of
buckles giving way, and the sewing of the reins to their bits coming
undone. When there is but _one rein_, the rider is left quite at the
mercy of an affrighted and infuriated animal; where, had there been TWO,
he would still have sufficient command over the animal to prevent
accidents.
There is another equally urgent reason for riding with double reins,
viz., the continual use of the curb materially tends to deaden the
sensitiveness of the horse's mouth; from the constant and unavoidable
drag upon the single rein, especially if tender-mouthed, he is made
uneasy and fidgetty, causing him to throw his head about, and go
extremely heavy in hand, and frequently rear or run back, to the very
great danger and annoyance of his rider, particularly when happening in
a crowded drive.
It is very requisite to ride a horse occasionally _well up to the curb
bit_, and to _keep him well up to it_ with the whip and heel, so that
he may get used to _work on his haunches_. By this means he will be
thrown upon them, and, consequently, "go light in hand," the greater
weight being taken from off his forehand, by which his carriage and
general appearance is materially improved.
After many essays, the author has found the following method to be the
_most correct and_ SAFE for holding the reins, when using _one_ or
_both_ hands. By it the rider has a much firmer hold--or, in
professional parlance, "purchase"--upon the reins, in keeping them from
slipping, consequently, a greater command over the horse, and can more
readily allow either rein to slip should he desire to use but one.
FOR HOLDING THE REINS IN ONE HAND.
The reins should hang _untwisted_ from the bits.
The rider must take up the bridoon reins with his right hand, and pass
the second and third fingers of the bridle, or left, hand between them,
draw up the reins with the right hand, until the horse's mouth can be
felt, and then pass them between the forefinger and thumb. Next take up
the _curb reins_ (again with the right hand), and pass the little finger
of the bridle hand between them, draw them up, as before directed, with
the right hand, until the rider perceives there is an equal length and
feeling with the _bridoon_ reins. The _latter_ having _rather_ the
strongest pressure on the animal's mouth. This done, _lay them also
over_ between the forefinger and thumb, and press down the thumb firmly
upon them to keep them from slipping; the hand to be held with the wrist
rounded outwards, opposite the centre of the body, and about four inches
from it.
_The right arm_ should hang without restraint, and _slightly_ bent, by
the thigh, the whip being held about twelve inches from its head, with
the point turned _upwards_.
USING BOTH HANDS.
Take the bridoon reins between the second and third, and the curb reins
between the third and fourth, fingers of each hand, each rein having an
equal bearing on the horse's mouth; the hands are to be held about six
inches apart, with the wrists rounded outwards, and the thumbs pressing
firmly upon the reins, the elbows well down, and held near to the sides,
the whip held as directed above.
RIDING ON ONE REIN.
Take up THAT particular rein with the right hand, and pass the second
and third fingers of the bridle hand between them, then draw up the
reins, but be careful, in doing so, not to hold the horse too tight in
hand; the OTHER rein should hang down, having the little finger passed
between them, and the thumb also over them, so that they may be caught
hold of, and drawn up quickly on any sudden emergency; the loose reins
are to hang between those in use.
THE WHIP.
The whip being a requisite aid in the management and guidance of the
horse, should be used as an instrument of correction, and by no means to
be _played_ with, nor _flourished about_. When using the whip for
punishment, _scold_ at the same time; by this means, with a cross word
will be associated the idea of chastisement. However, far more can be
achieved by kindness than by any harsh measure; but when such instances
occur that it is _absolutely necessary_, never hesitate to _punish
well_, so that the animal may thoroughly understand that it is
_punishment_ that is meant for his fault--_not play_.
"A man of kindness to his beast is kind,
But brutal actions show a brutal mind:
Remember He who made thee, made the brute,
Who gave thee speech and reason, form'd him mute;
He can't complain, but God's omniscient eye
Beholds thy cruelty. He hears his cry.
He was designed thy servant--not thy drudge;
But know, that his Creator is thy Judge."
Colt-breaking by the Guachos is performed in the same mode as the
Kalmucks, with the lasso; the idea of being thrown, let a horse do what
he pleases, never occurs to a Guacho. According to them, a "good rider"
is a man who can manage an untamed colt, and one, if his horse should
fall, could alight unhurt upon his feet. At the moment of a horse
falling backwards they can slip quietly off, and, on the instant of his
rising, jump on him again. They never seem to exert muscular force, and
appear to ride very loosely, as if every moment they must fall off: yet
should his horse be suddenly frightened, the Guacho will start, and
take, simultaneously, fright with the horse. There is nothing done on
foot by the Guachos that cannot be done on horseback; even _mounted_
beggars are to be seen in the streets of Buenos Ayres and Mendoza. It is
not, therefore, surprising that, with such multitudes of horses, that
the people should all be riders, and excel all other nations in their
expertness and boldness in their management.
The Pampas and Prairie Indians, whose forefathers fled from the Spanish
horsemen, as if they were fatal apparitions, now seem to be part and
parcel of the horse. They affirm the proudest attitude of the human
figure is when a man bending over his horse, lance in hand, is riding
_at_ his enemy. The Guachos, who ride so beautifully, declare it is
utterly impossible to vie with mounted Indians; they have such a way of
urging on their horses by cries, and a peculiar motion of their bodies;
even were they to change horses, the Indians would beat them.
The Turks prefer the Turkman horse to the pure-blooded, slender Arabian.
In fact, from their trying mode of riding, the fine limbs of the Arab
could not stand the shock upon them, their favourite manoeuvre being
to make a dead stop when galloping at full speed. To accomplish this
feat, they use a very severe bit, which, of course, destroys the
_sensibility_ of their horses' mouths; while, on the contrary, the Arabs
use only a plain snaffle, which preserves all the sensitiveness of the
animals' mouths.
The Toorkman, or Turkman horses.--These are much esteemed by the
Persians. They are large and swift, and possess extraordinary powers of
endurance, though they are exceedingly awkward in appearance. Turkistan
is their native region, which lies north-east of the Caspian Sea; but
their tribes are widely dispersed over Persia, Asia Minor, and Syria.
The Persians are great admirers of horsemanship, and a bad rider affords
them infinite amusement. "An officer of an English frigate having gone
ashore to visit the envoy, and being mounted on a very spirited horse,
and a very bad rider, caused great entertainment to the Persian
populace. The next day the man who supplied the ship with vegetables,
and spoke a little English, said to the officer, 'Don't be ashamed, sir,
nobody knows you--bad rider! I tell them you, like all English, ride
well, but that time they see you very drunk!' We were much amused at
this conception of our national character. The Persian thought it would
have been _a reproach for a man of a warlike nation not to ride well_,
but none for a European to get drunk."[33-*]
[33-*] _Vide_ "The Horse and his Rider."
The Syrian horses are reared with the utmost tenderness and care; they
are fondled and played with like children. The Syrian horse is equally
good on mountainous, or stony ground, as on the plain; he is
indefatigable, and full of spirit. The Timarli ride horses of the Syrian
breed, mostly from their possessing these inestimable qualifications.
The Neapolitan horse.--This horse is small, but compact and strong; the
head rather large; the neck short, and bull-shaped: the prototype of the
horses represented on the bassi-relievi of ancient Roman sculpture. He
is capable of living on hard fare, and undergoing great fatigue. He is
frequently vicious and headstrong; this is chiefly owing to his harsh
treatment; though very high-spirited, he would, with gentle usage,
become extremely docile and good tempered. The districts of Apulia,
Abruzzi, and parts of Calabria furnish this excellent animal. The
Neapolitans have taken extreme pains in the breeding of their horses;
they make great display of them in their streets during the Carnival,
and through Lent. The aristocratic families have excellent studs of
great spirit and beauty.