His horse was feeling frisky, and he had to hold the reins tightly.
他的马有些欢腾,他不得不把缰绳拉紧。
《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》
2
She had perceived that the horse was not the spirited one he sometimes rode, and felt no alarm on that score, though her seat was precarious enough despite her tight hold of him.