48' HOESE-KEEPING FOE AMATEUES. 



clotli is used, then let it be a leather one — very much better, 

 and less liable to cause mischief, than any other. In the event 

 of a sore back, where it is absolutely necessary to use a horse, 

 as, for instance, where he is to run in a race, the most effective 

 thing to do is to rub the bad place liberally with pure hog's 

 lard, then do the same to a linen cloth, and place it on the 

 affected part, with the saddle on top. In this way, very little, 

 if any, pain is caused to the poor beast during the short time 

 he is wanted. Get the saddle off again as soon as may be, 

 and gently bathe the affected part with warm water. 



For the rider's comfort, I strongly recommend small knee- 

 rolls, in preference to the plain-flap saddles. With the latter, 

 the knees of a weak rider are apt to slip over on to the horse's 

 shoulders in the event of any unwcnted exertion, such as 

 jumping, for instance. On the other hand, plain flaps un- 

 doubtedly look better, and set off the animal's shoulder to 

 a greater advantage. 



If a horse's mouth is suflSciently tender, by all means ride 

 him in a plain snaffle. It is an immense advantage to him 

 to have the free use of his head, unrestrained by a curb, and 

 you will benefit, first, by having two reins instead of four in 

 your hand, and, secondly, if you are hunting, &c., by knowing 

 that, however bad Nature made your hands, you cannot very 

 well pull your horse into his fences, or incommode him in 

 going over them by ''hanging on to his head." This reminds 

 one of the story of the man with a refusing horse, which 

 he was holding tightly by the head. " Give 'im 'is 'ed, 

 gov'nor; give 'im 'is 'ed!" yelled an excited onlooker. "Yes, 

 I dessay," contemptuously replied the rider, "and if I was to 

 give 'im 'is 'ed, what am I to 'old on by ? " 



The next best bit to a plain snaffle is the short hunting 

 curb and bridoon ; whilst strong enough to hold almost 

 anything, it is yet, properly manipulated, one of the easiest 

 bits in the world. All such abominations as extra long shanked 

 curbs, very high ports, &c., should be unhesitatingly rejected. 

 They will spoil any horse's mouth, or, if that has been already 

 done, make it worse than it was before. A very useful bit, 

 especially for "bolters," is a sharply-twisted snaffle, with 

 double reins, the lower run through a martingale. If you 

 cannot stop a horse with this, the sooner he is sold the better 

 for his owner and the insurance office I Pelhams are very 

 well for light-mouthed animals, but, somehow or other, a 



