102 BITS AND BRIDLE GEAR. 



the reins, as the minimum in question. At the period of 

 the gallop in which the horse is depicted in Fig. 109, the 

 animal's head is held higher than at the other periods of that 

 pace ; because, at that moment, the fore-hand is raised off the 

 ground, and the hind legs are brought under the body. In 

 practice we find that the martingale should not be shorter* 



Fig. no. Measuring minimum length of Running Martingale. 



than a length which will allow it, when drawn up, to reach as 

 high as the top of the withers (Fig. 1 10). Lengthening it out 

 another three or four inches will generally be an improvement. 

 The use of a running martingale shorter than the minimum I 

 have just laid down, more or less irritates the horse ; because, 

 even when he holds his head in correct position, he cannot 

 escape from its disagreeable pressure. The employment of a 



