class="chapterhead" id="pgepubid00013">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.

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 manœuvre 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