8o HORSES 



seldom see a thin bit, and people have gone rather 

 to the other extreme, so that in some instances the 

 combined thickness of snaffle and curb is nearly as 

 big as a man's wrist. This is, of course, too much 

 iron to put in a horse's mouth, and I can only 

 advise you to use your common sense in finding 

 the happy medium. 



Although I do not advise a martingale to be used 

 regularly, it is a very powerful aid to the control of 

 a young or fractious horse. Always have it on the 

 curb rein, because when on the snaffle it neutralises 

 the deUcate feel you should have on a horse's 

 mouth. Both instruments of control should be on 

 the same rein, and then as he gives to you with the 

 one, you can play lightly wuth the other as a rew^ard 

 for good behaviour. 



See that the rings of the martingale are not big 

 enough to slip over the rings of the bit, or in 

 jumping a fence you may find the horse's head 

 tied down with very unpleasant results. 



A first-rate horseman can do things that are 

 beyond the power of others, and I know one 

 who rides all his horses in martingales ; but my 

 friend who reads this chapter would, I feel certain, 

 be better without it, or at least until he has had 

 rather more experience. A bad rider is often 

 confirmed in the error of his ways by using a 

 martingale, and his horse is tortured at the same 

 time. 



A " pelham " is a bridle of which I have had very 

 little experience, but though the principle of it is to 



