2i8 BRIDLES AND SADDLES. 



in keeping his head straight ; (3) to retain the reins in 

 their place, and to prevent either of them from getting 

 over the neck. With the first object in view, the 

 martingale may be adjusted so as to allow the 

 direction of the pull of the reins to be in a line 

 with the top of the withers. With horses which keep 

 their heads sufficiently low, the martingale should be 

 somewhat longer, so that it may not cramp the action 

 of the head in any way. A rider, by an extra ex- 

 penditure of strength, may keep his hands low enough 

 to be able to dispense with a martingale for holding 

 the horse's head down, but, do what he chooses, he will 

 not have the same power for keeping him straight as he 

 would have with one on. Of course I am referring to 

 free, " flippant " goers, and not to " slugs." 



I strongly advocate the use of the running martingale. 



Martingales for yearlings are frequently provided at 

 Newmarket with a long triangular leather strap which 

 connects the sidepieces together, so that the young one 

 cannot catch his head in them. The apex of the 

 triangle, of course, points down, while the base, which is 

 about six inches broad, reaches to within a few inches of 

 the animal's jaw. 



A not very efficient substitute for the martingale may 



