THE REINS AND DIMENSIONS OF BRIDLE. 243 



THE REINS. 



The rein for the snaffle or bridoon is usually made with 

 a buckle at the hand end so that, when used with a run- 

 ning martingale, small stiff pieces of leather, called "stops," 

 about half an inch wide and two inches and a quarter long, 

 may be run over the reins to a point in front of the rings 

 of the martingale. When a double bridle is used the hand 

 ends of the curb-rein are generally sewed together. Red, 

 green or white enamel leather fronts may be used in place 

 of the brown leather one. (See Figs. 109, 1 10, iii.) 



When a number of horses are kept or the horses fre- 

 quently changed, it will be necessary to keep a fair sized 

 assortment of bits and bridles. On this subject, Charles 

 Brindley says : 



" If people are contented to ride or drive horses in bridles and bits that 

 do not suit their mouths, of course a veiy few will do ; but if we want 

 horses to go pleasantly, each must have his bridle, for though a horse may 

 go moderately well in a certain bridle, a man with nice hands and who is 

 particular as to how he is carried, will not rest till he finds the bridle that 

 exactly suits." — " The Pocket and the Stud,'' p. pj. 



DIMENSIONS OF BRIDLE OF AVERAGE-SIZED HORSE. 



FEET. INCHES. 



Crown-piece, length i . . 3^4 



Crown-piece, width . . i ^ 



Front, length i . . 5 



Front, width . . i 



Cheek-pieces, length . . 10 



Cheek-pieces, width . . %. 



Throat-latch, length 2.-4 



Throat- latch, width . . % 



Nose-band, length 2 . . 4 



Nose-band, width . . % 



