76 HORSES 



his might, but however muscular he may be his 

 strength soon gives out, and he then becomes a 

 helpless passenger. 



The horse that goes off with his head up in the 

 air, and has no martingale to bring it down, is 

 generally the easiest class of runaway to deal with, 

 though, as he cannot see where he is going, his 

 rider is in a very uncomfortable position for a few 

 seconds. All you have to do is to shake the reins 

 and drop your hands on the withers, when the 

 horse will soon lower his head, and you can get 

 a gentle feel of his mouth again. 



The horse that puts his head down or takes the 

 bit in his teeth has to be treated in a different 

 manner. Loose the reins, then pull the bit sharply 

 through his mouth from one side to the other, 

 which method will generally be found effective 

 in bringing his head into the right position. The 

 snaffle, when used in this way, can inflict consider- 

 able pain on a horse, but he must be made to 

 understand he will be punished unless he regulates 

 his force to your wishes rather than to his own. 



There are many different varieties of bridles 

 which have been invented for subjugating and 

 controlling animals that have been taught to pull 

 by bad riding, but the plain ordinary snaffle and 

 the snaffle combined with curb will be found to 

 answer most purposes. Have nothing to do with 

 a bit that is covered with indiarubber, for though 

 the principle of it may seem right to you in that 

 it is yielding to the horse's mouth, you will find 



