52 ILLUSTRATED HORSE-BREAKING. 



little above the withers : actions on his part which 

 tend to relieve the horse's forehand of weight, and, 

 consequently, to make him use his powers to the 

 best advantage. 



In military riding, which demands special control 

 over the animal's movements, the horse's head is 

 drawn in, and the rider's hand raised, much more 

 than they would be in ordinary work. 



The running martingale. The legitimate uses of 

 this gear are to aid in keeping the horse straight, 

 and to prevent the reins going over his head ; but 

 not to keep the head down. If this martingale be 

 so short as to exert a downward pull on the reins, 

 too much weight will be thrown on the forehand. 

 If the horse raises his head even when this martin- 

 gale is lengthened out, so as to bring its rings on a 

 level with the withers, when it is pulled up, the 

 downward direction of the reins, from the mouth- 

 piece to the rings of the martingale, will produce 

 the same ill effect. Hence, it is a maxim among all 



