REINS. 



moderately thin and broad. The only real advantage of 

 having the reins sewn instead of buckled on to the 

 bit, is that it dispenses with the necessity of having 

 " stops " on the reins which pass through the rings of 

 the martingale (see Fig. 32, page 233). Though it looks 

 better, it is inconvenient, as it does not admit of a 

 change of bits. 



With a double bridle, I prefer having both reins of 

 equal breadth, instead of having the curb rein narrow, 

 and the snaffle rein broad, as is frequently the practice. 

 The buckle at the centre of the one which passes 

 through the rings of the martingale, will serve to distin- 

 guish it from the other. The " feeling " in the hands 

 wdth reins of equal substance, is far more pleasant than 

 when they are of different sizes. When the reins 

 are held according to a uniform method, there will not 

 be the slightest possibility of the rider becoming con- 

 fused as to their respective identity. 



In order to prevent the reins slipping through the 

 fingers with a puller, pieces of leather, about a quarter 

 of an inch broad, and as long as the width of the reins, 

 are sometimes sewn across the inside part of the reins, 

 at intervals of three or four inches. With gloves on, I 

 don't think there is any need of this arrangement ; while, 



