GRACEFUL RIDING. 19 



ON PROPERLY FIXING THE BRIDLE, SADDLE, &c. 

 THE BRIDLE. 



In fitting the bridle, the curb bit should be 

 placed so that the mouth-piece be but one inch above 

 the lower tusk, — in mares, two inches above the cor- 

 ner tooth ; THE bridoon touching the corner of the 

 lips, so as to fit easy, without wrinkling them ; the 

 HEADSTALL parallel to the projecting cheek-bone, and 

 behind it ; the throat lash should be sufficiently 

 long to fall just below the cheek-bone, and not lay 

 over or upon it ; the nose band should be placed 

 low — but that must depend very much on the size of 

 the horse's mouth — and not buckled tight ; the curb, 

 when properly fitted, should be flat and smooth in 

 the hollow of the lips, so as to admit one finger easily 

 between. 



the saddle 



should be placed in the middle of the horse's back, 

 about a hand's breadth, or four or five inches, from 

 the shoulders, so as to give perfect freedom to the 

 action of the muscles of the shoulders. 



The girths must be laid evenly one over the 



other, and admit freedom for one finger between the 



girth and the horse's belly. The surcingle should fit 



neatly over the girths, and not be buckled tighter than 



b 2 



