84 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



When the horse raises his head too high this 

 strap pulls upon the nose - band, compresses 

 his nostrils, interferes with his breathing, arid 

 causes him to lower his head promptly. The 

 horse should not be too much confined by the 

 martingale, for the object is simply to prevent 

 him from lifting his head too high, and all other 

 ordinary movements should be left free. 



Among the many bits which have been used, 

 that known as the " Pel- 

 ham " has been highly 

 praised, although, at the 

 present time, it is almost, 

 if not entirely, out of use. 

 It might, however, from 

 the severity of its curb 

 prove of service in con- 

 trolling a hard-mouthed 



horse, although such a one should never be 

 ridden by a lady. The Chifney bit is another 

 very severe one, and is very useful in managing 

 a horse that pulls hard. But if the animal have 

 a tender mouth, this bit should be used with 

 great caution, and not at all by an inexperi- 

 enced rider. (Fig. 13.) 



The bit known as the " snaffle," when made 

 plain and not twisted, is the mildest of all bits, 

 and some horses will move readily only when 



