Chapter II: Holding and Handling the Reins

Reins at full length 14
The downward clutch 16
The Grecian mode of holding and handling the reins 18
The side clutch 20
The two reins _crossed_ in one hand 21
A rein in each hand 23
Turn to the right, and left 26
The hunting hand 26
The rough-rider's hand 27
Fixing the hands 28
Use of both bridles at once 30
Shortening the reins when held one in each hand, system of
taught, and of untaught horsemen 30
Use of the whip 34
Horses swerve and turn _only to the left_ 34
Fault in "the great untaught," two-handed, English rider 35

CHAPTER III.
EFFECT OF INDICATIONS.

Retaining, urging, and guiding indications 36
To make a horse collect himself 37
Canter, right turn, right pass 38
Left shoulder in 38
Bearing on the mouth 39
The horse must be made to collect himself in turning 42
And should not be turned on one rein only 43
Lady's canter 44
The quicker the pace, the greater degree of collection 44
French and English mistake in this 45
The shy horse 46
The restive horse 48
Truth may be paradoxical 49

CHAPTER IV.
MECHANICAL AID OF THE RIDER.

The rider cannot raise the falling horse 50
Harm is done by the attempt 51
The bearing-rein 54
Mechanical assistance of the jockey to his horse 56
Standing on the stirrups 58
Difference between the gallop and the leap 58
Steeple-chases and hurdle-races unfair on the horse 59
The rider should not attempt to lift his horse at a fence 61

CHAPTER V.
THE SEAT.

There is one direction which applies to all seats 65
Different seats for different styles of riding 65
The manège and the Eastern seats are the extremes 66
The long stirrup is necessary for cavalry to act in line 67
Medium length of stirrup for common riding 69

CHAPTER VI.
MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING.

Directions to place a lady in her saddle 70
Directions to mount at a halt 71
To mount in movement 71
To dismount in movement 71
To vault on or over in movement 72
To vault on at a halt 72
Circus for practising these movements 72
To pick a whip from the ground 72
To face about in the saddle 73

CHAPTER VII.
THE BIT.

Place of the bit in the horse's mouth 74
Principle of the bit 74
Action of the common bit 76
Action of the Chifney bit 77
The loose eye 77
The nose-band 77
The horse's defence against the bit by the tongue 78
Effect of the porte against this defence 78
Defence of the horse by the lip 80
Defence by the teeth 80
Bar of the military and driving bit 81
Martingale 81
Danger does not result from power 84

CHAPTER VIII.
THE SADDLE AND SIDE-SADDLE.

A side-saddle should have no right hand pummel 86
The leaping-horn 86
Surcingle 88
Stirrup-leather 89
Stirrup-iron 90
Girthing 90
To avoid riding on the buckles of the girths 91

CHAPTER IX.
THE SHORT REIN.

The short rein should be used when one hand is occupied 93
Its use to a soldier 94
Its use with the restive horse 94
It should not be used in hunting, or in swimming a horse 95
Objection to it for common riding 95
Used by postilion 99
Short rein of the Eastern horseman 96