242 



THE BUCKLES. 



of leather with buckles on one or preferably both sides, by 

 means of which its length is adjusted. The bridoon-head 

 passes under the crown-piece and behind the cheek-piece 

 of the headstall. 



THE BUCKLES. 



The buckles on the bridle are either plated or covered 

 with leather. The latter present a neater appearance and 

 are almost as durable. The cheek-pieces of some bridles 

 are made without billets, the bit or bits being sewed in. 



▼▼TTTTTTTVfyTTTl 



FIG. 109. 



rrmimrmmiT 



FIG. no. 



FIG. III. 



These are very neat and may be employed when an owner 

 has a number of bridles, but this form does not admit of 

 the bits being readily changed, and moreover requires more 

 time and care in scouring and burnishing. 



" I advocate what buckles are necessary to a bridle being a long square 

 (if I may use the term) ; whether they are prettier or the reverse than the 

 rounded ones is mere matter of taste. I think they look workmanlike, be- 

 cause there is a sensible advantage in them. They do not bend the reins, 

 do not wear its edges, and when wanted to be shifted, run more easily, 

 and admit of rollers to enable them to do so." — Charles Brindey, ''Practi- 

 cal Horsemanship,''' p. 10 j. 



