This can be done either by shortening them singly, or by catching hold of the two off-side reins as usual, placing the forefinger over the near lead, and the middle finger over the near wheel, and then allowing the near-side reins to slide a little through the fingers of both hands, while still retaining a firm grip of the off-side reins. Of course, however, only a very little can be got out at a time by this method.
Another plan is to grip the reins tightly with the right hand, the first two fingers over the near-side reins, the lower fingers over the off, and then to open the fingers of the left hand, when the off-side reins can be pushed through them by turning the lower part of the right hand towards the left (see figs. 18 and 35).
|Never remove left hand from reins.| Never on any account take the left hand out of the reins, even though the right may be holding them firmly in front, as it is very difficult to get the left hand back into its place again with the reins in the right places. Of course, if your fingers are numbed from cold or from hard pulling, it will be necessary to take the hand out and slap the fingers on the thigh. |Taking leaders’ reins out with right hand.| But if the horses seem to be going all anyhow, take the leaders out with |Lead reins should seldom be removed from left hand.| the right hand, the little finger over the off lead, and the first or second finger over the near lead (fig. 32); then adjust the wheelers by letting the rein which is too short slide gently through the left hand, and replace the leaders. If the reins are found to be too long, shorten them all from behind. This plan should be rarely resorted to, as it is a very bad habit to perpetually fiddle with the lead reins.
|Keep an eye always on horses.| Always keep an eye on the position of the horses, and see that they are in their right places, and that each is doing his fair share of work.
If any horse is out of his place, find out the cause, and adjust the rein or use the whip accordingly.
|Grip tightly with third and little fingers to prevent reins slipping.| Always keep the left hand and elbow in their proper positions, and keep a firm grip of the reins with the third and little fingers never on any account allowing one to slip. This cannot be too strongly insisted on, although it will be found very tiring at first, even if the horses are not pulling.
FIG. 32.—TAKING LEADERS’ REINS OUT OF LEFT HAND WITH RIGHT HAND.
|Do not drop left hand.| When catching or attending to the whip, beginners are very apt to drop the left hand. This leads to horses getting out of hand, and makes them pull.
|When looping do not alter position of left hand.| Do not allow the left hand to go moving across the body from side to side, or to move to the front to pick up the reins; except occasionally when turning to the left, when it may be useful to loop thus:—