14 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



steady and close a seat as to put all suspicion of what 

 is technically termed " rein-riding" out of the question. 

 This self-same rein-riding — that is, the depending to 

 any extent on the reins for maintaining the seat — is 

 but too common, and a frequent cause of restiveness 

 in horses, and no end of disasters to riders. It must 

 be admitted that a certain exaggerated method of rising 

 in the stirrups and totally abandoning all contact with 

 the saddle, in which Sunday and holiday riders so 

 much delight, conduces very directly to this. Of 

 course no good rider cares to perform this description 

 of equestrian antic ; still it is sufficiently common, even 

 a^jiongst men who should know better, to demand 

 attention, and is noticed here for the sake of illustrat- 

 ing the close connection that exists between bitting 

 and saddling. 



The mechanical principles on which the action of 

 the bit depends form the first subject of inquiry. Then 

 we shall have to examine into the internal and external 

 conformation of the horse's mouth to which this instru- 

 ment is applied ; we shall thence be enabled to deduce 

 the dimensions of the several parts of the bit, and also 

 ascertain its proper place. Some few of these dimen- 

 sions are nearly constant— others, again, are variable, 

 and the proper means for ascertaining them shall be 

 pointed out. The use of the snaffle, the running-reins, 

 the nose-band, and other contrivances, demands some 

 attention, as also the real and supposed advantages of 

 various kinds of bits. 



The third part is devoted to the very important 

 questions of " Draught and Harness." We have, in 

 the first place, endeavoui'ed to show, that although the 

 mechanical rules applied to the traction of machines 



