232 BRIDLES AND SADDLES. 



moderately loose, as it will then look best ; but if for 

 use, it should be drawn tight. It may be placed a 

 couple of inches clear of the upper rings of the cheeks of 

 the bit, if with a curb, so that it may not press incon- 

 veniently on the horse's nostrils. It ought to occupy 

 the same position with the snaffle. 



A running martingale, as I have before stated, should 

 be sufficiently long to allow the pull of the reins to be in 

 a line with the top of the withers. With horses which 

 carry their heads in a proper position, the martingale 

 may be lengthened out a little more. As the effect of a 

 sJurt martingale, with a snaffle, is to throw the pressure 

 on the bars of the horse's mouth, it should on no account 

 be employed with animals which are required to jump, 

 for they would, then, be naturally afraid to face their bit, 

 being well aware that every jerk on the reins would fall 

 on their gums, which are tender and unyielding ; while, 

 if the martingale were lengthened out, the pressure 

 would come on the corners of the mouth, which are 

 able to " give and take " to a certain extent with the 

 action of the snaffle. 



If "stops" be not on reins which have buckles, the 

 ends of the straps (billets) of the buckles should be with- 

 drawn out of their " keepers," as in the accompanying 

 sketch, so that the rings of the martingale may not 



