HOW TO HOLD THE REINS.

There are three orthodox ways for holding the reins, namely, the English, German, and French. I do not hesitate to say that the French way is the best.

As the snaffle is higher in the mouth than the curb, its principal action is to raise the head of the horse, and that of the curb to lower it. In other words, the snaffle is an elevator ; the curb, a depressor. Therefore, the reins should occupy the same respective positions in the hand, as the snaffle and curb do in the mouth, namely, the snaffle reins should be above the curb reins.

Contrary to this very simple principle, the English place both reins at the same height in the hand and hold one rein between each finger. The Germans act in a still more contrary way to the principle in question, by holding the snaffle reins below the curb reins, supposing that the hand is in a vertical position. It appears that the Germans have even less common sense than the English.

Reason tells us that the reins should be held in the French manner ;^[1] the hand vertical, the left curb rein under the little finger of the left hand ; the right rein between the ring finger and the middle finger, while their ends pass between the thumb and index finger. The two reins of the snaffle are joined in the same hand, and taken between the thumb and index finger (Fig. 16). With the reins held in this manner and without displacing the hand, we are able, by the mere play of the wrist, to obtain the movements which are indispensable for acting on the mouth ; supposing, of course, that the animal is broken.

1st. The hand placed in position exerts an equal tension on all four reins (Fig. 16).