BRIDLIXG. 83 



to confine the reins and prevent the horse from 

 throwing them over his head when tossing it up and . 

 down. It will not do instead of a martingale, but it 

 is better than nothing. 



It sometimes may happen that a rider may find 

 himself on a horse that is unmanageable without a 

 martingale, but has not got one on. In this ease, 

 if the horse has a breastplate on, the rider should 

 dismount, unbuckle one rein, pass the reins through 

 the ring of the breastplate, and then fasten them 

 again. 



It will not be safe to do this out hunting, or if 

 you are going to jump, but on a road it is an effec- 

 tual substitute for a martingale. 



A substitute for a ring may be made in a moment 

 by turning the horse's reins over his head and then 

 twisting them once round and turning them back 

 again. It will then be impossible for the horse to 

 throw the reins over his head. 



