42 RIDING 



groom. A man's saddle seldom hurts a horse except about 

 the withers. A groom never seems to be aware that the rider's- 

 weight brings the pommel down on those parts, and is satisfied 

 if it stands up clear before the horse is mounted. As to this 

 you can judge for yourself the moment you are on his back by 

 trying if you can place three fingers comfortably under the 

 pommel without being pinched. If on starting your horse 

 feels as if he was lame all round and ricked in the back, be 

 sure there is something wrong with his tackle ; even if he does- 

 not show it on the flat he will do so on descending the first 

 and slightest declivity. If when riding with plain flaps you find 

 you are continually shot ' out of the plate ' at fences, by all 

 means have pads, bolsters if you like, in front of your knees - 7 

 if you prefer the plain flaps, have them cut well forward, and 

 without stitches round the edge. 



Many admirable treatises have been written on bits and 

 bridles ; we have no wish to add to the number. As one of the 

 oldest of the essayists has said, 'There is a key to every horse's- 

 mouth if you can only find it.' Suffice it here to remark that, 

 if a horse does not want much holding almost any double rein 

 bridle, with steel or leather curb, or without either, will answer 

 the purpose. If he really catches hold, discard all suggestions 

 and ideas of ' secundos,' ' Chifneys,' * gridirons,' ' high ports,' and 

 such-like fancy instruments of torture (though a gag is occa- 

 sionally useful), and try to arrange him simply by length of 

 cheek to the bit ; you may have it a foot long an it please 

 you, for it is what is inside and not what is outside his mouth 

 which hurts and irritates him. If he does not respond to this- 

 treatment, but continues to get the upper hand of you, sell 

 him and let somebody else try experiments with him. 



'Sit down in your saddle and keep his head straight,' is the 

 best of all possible advice, but it must be in a saddle and with 

 a bridle, made and adjusted so as to afford the greatest com- 

 fort combined with perfect liberty of action to horse and rider. 



