stirrup iron to remain at right angles to the sides of the horse, in case the rider's foot comes out, so that he may readily pick it up again. With irons thus arranged, the chance of the foot getting caught, in the event of a fall, is greatly lessened. Mr. John Wheal, the well known Indian trainer, was the first to show it to me. He learned it from the celebrated George Stevens. It is as follows:Twist the stirrup leather in the direction the hands of a clock proceed, if on the off side, till it is pretty well shortened; then pull it hard down by means of the iron, and let it go. On becoming untwisted, the leather will be found to have received a twist which will keep the iron at right angles to the horse's side.

Girths.-Girths, that have never been previously used, should not be put on for a race, as they will stretch considerably, and by doing so, may allow the saddle to shift its position, or even to turn round.

CHAPTER X.

Riding.

HOW TO HOLD THE REINS-POSITION OF THE HANDS-THE SEATHOLDING A RUNAWAY-TURNING THE HORSE-STANDING IN THE STIRRUPS RIDING OVER FENCES-FINISHING-USING THE WHIP -RACE RIDING-STEEPLE CHASE RIDING.

IN the following pages I shall confine myself to the description of the system of riding which is applicable to the ordinary horseman, pigsticker, hunting man, steeple-chase rider and jockey.

How to hold the reins. When using the left hand only, with single reins, draw the near-rein between the third and little fingers, and bring it out between the first finger and thumb. Then place the off-rein over the flat of the same hand, so that the reins may cross on it. Thus

FIG. IV.

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H

Turn the knuckles down, and the reins will be in the proper position

FIG. V.

When both hands are used, the off-rein is taken up between the third and little fingers of the right hand, while the slack of the near rein passes between its first finger and thumb, so that the hold on the reins, by both hands, is perfectly symmetrical, as follows—

FIG. VI.

The reins can now be shortened or lengthened-without the hands quitting them-by simply drawing the hands apart, and at the same time tightening or relaxing, as the case may be, the hold of the thumb of the right hand on the near rein, and that of the little finger of the left hand on the off-rein. When the reins are shortened in the manner described, the hands are brought together to their proper distance one from another, while the slack of the reins is allowed to slip through the palms of the respective hands.

If the rider wants to shorten his reins quickly, as for instance when the horse "pecks" on landing over a fence and pulls the reins through his hands, his left hand should quit the off-reins and he should slip it forward on the near rein-his right hand, the while, retaining its hold on both—and, having got the proper length, he should catch the off-rein underneath, with the palm of the hand upwards, in the following manner—

The knuckles of the left hand are now turned down, while the right hand quits its original hold, and takes up the reins as before.

The following two methods of holding double reins may be adopted:

1st.-Take up the rein on which one wants to have the strongest hold-the snaffle rein for instance-with the left-hand, as a single rein, and hook on to the middle finger the other rein, which may be allowed to hang loosely down, or it may be drawn up and passed down between the palm of the hand and the near rein of the other pair of reins.

This is the best way for a lady to hold double reins.

2nd.-Take up the snaffle reins as single reins, except that its near-rein should pass outside the little finger. Bring the near curb rein between the third and little fingers, the off curb rein between the first and middle fingers and cross them, thus

FIG. VIII.