BRIDLING. 41 



beast that is incorrigible about getting bis bead up, but 

 should be used in the street or on the road only. 



The Ring-Martingal is intended solely for the field 

 with a horse whose head cannot be kept down ; but it 

 requires to be used with nice judgment, and handling 

 of the second or separate rein, which should pass through 

 it, especially when the animal is in or near the act of 

 taking his fences, when, with some horses, comparative 

 freedom may be allowed to the head, which should, 

 however, be brought down to its proper place directly 

 he is safely landed on his legs again by the use of this 

 second martingal-rein, which is attached to the bridoon 

 bit. 



N.B. — If this second rein be attached to the snaffle 

 by buckles (and not stitched on as it ought to be), the 

 buckles of the rein should be defended from getting 

 into the rings of the martingal by pieces of leather 

 larger than those rings. Most serious accidents have 

 occurred from the absence of this precaution : the buckle 

 becoming caught in the ring, the horse's head is fixed 

 in one position, and not knowing where he is going, he 

 proceeds, probably without any control from the rider, 

 till both come to some serious mishap. The rein 

 stitched to the ring of the bit is the safest. 



The Running -Rein, or other plan of martingal (from 

 the D in front of the saddle above the rider's knee 

 through the ring of the snaffle to his hand), should only 

 be used by the riding-master or those competent to 

 avail themselves of its assistance in forming the mouth 

 of a troublesome or untrained animal. Some experi- 

 enced horsemen, however, when they find they cannot 

 keep the nose in or head down with ordinary bits, in- 

 stead of using a martingal of any denomination, employ 



