156 BITS AND BITTING. 



an internal diameter of somewhat more than 1 inch 

 (say 1^), the external one being If, leaving, therefore, 

 the thickness of the ivory about J an inch. 



The running-rein is in one straight piece, 8J- feet 

 long from the buckle to the point, towards which latter 

 it tapers off somewhat, its width being otherwise that 

 of a common bit-rein, T %- of an inch. An 18-inch 

 strap of the same width is sewed on behind the buckle 

 and pierced with five or six holes. The martingal has 

 the same contrivance, as usual, of a buckle for forming 

 a loop through which to draw the girths ; but the other 

 end of the strap (inch wide), instead of being split into 

 two narrow ones, each carrying its own ring, is left of 

 its full width, and carries one ivory ring of 1 J inches 

 internal diameter and 2J external, leaving, therefore, 

 f of an inch for the thickness of the ivory. The 

 usual length of the martingal from the ring to the 

 buckle is 3|- to 4 feet, the latter affording scope for 

 adjustment; and there is, of course, a neck-strap for 

 carrying the martingal, which is too well known to 

 need description. 



Let us now suppose the horse to be saddled and 

 bridled with a plain snaffle, the first step will be to 

 buckle the chin-strap into the rings of the mouthpiece, 

 the martingal having been previously put on in the 

 usual manner, and its length so adjusted that the large 

 ring it carries may just reach the level of the joints of 

 the shoulders. The next step will be to buckle one 

 end of the running-rein into a D ring attached for 

 that purpose to the pommel of the saddle on the near 

 side ; the other end of this rein is then carried forward 

 through the ring of the martingal (from rear to front), 

 from thence through the ring of the chin-strap from 



