• BRIDLING. 41 



second martingal-rein, which is attached to the bridoon 

 of that bit. 



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

 by buckles (and not stitched on as it onght 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 h^d), should only 

 be iised by the riding-master or those competent to 

 avail themselves of its assistar^e m fojming the mouthy 

 of a troublesome or untrained animal Some ^peri- ■ 

 enced horsemen, however, when they find they cannot 

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

 stead of using a martingal of any denomination, employ 

 (especially in the field) with good eff'ect a ring, keeping 

 the hridoon or snaffle-reins under the bend of the neck ; 

 or a- better contrivance is a bit of stiff" leather three or 

 four inches long, with two D's or staples for the reins 

 to -pass through on each side. 



The Cliifney Bit is the most suitabte tor ladies' use, 

 or for timid or invalid riders : it at once brings up a 

 hard-pulling horse, but requires v^ry gentle handling. 

 I have known more than one horse to be quite un- 

 manageable in any but a Chifney bit. 



The more severe bits are those that have the longest 



