254 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



is all very well to put it quite short in the case of 

 a dangerous rearer, when riding over fences the 

 rider might so hamper the horse, he would most 

 likely make but a half-hearted spring. The right 

 way is to hold the horse's head well up, and then 

 so adjust the length of the martingale that the 

 rings just reach the angle of the throat and head 

 behind the jaws. This is quite sufficiently short 

 to give great power in steadying, and controlling 

 the animal ; while it does not fidget it at all, nor 

 interfere with its comfort in any degree. 



Martingales are also required for horses that 

 have the dangerous habit of throwing back their 

 heads, for a broken nose or concussion of the 

 brain is no infrequent result of this most un- 

 pleasant trick. If the reins are merely passed 

 under the jaws through two leather-covered 

 metal rings, securely fastened together, the head 

 can be prevented from reaching the rider's 

 face without any martingale ; but a preferable 

 plan is to use a standing martingale, usually 

 termed a " Cheshire martingale," which termi- 

 nates in two branching chains, with spring-hooks, 

 that are snapped on to the rings of the bit. 

 This does not interfere when jumping in the 

 least, for if a horse is watched when taking a 

 fence, it will be seen that the head drops some- 

 what, just as the effort to jump is made. It, 

 however, effectively prevents the horse from 

 tossing his head, and the first time he tries to do 

 so gives such a wrench to his mouth, as much 

 disconcerts him ; and very often a continuance 

 of this plan eventually cures him of the habit 

 altogether. 



There is a snaffie which is a most valuable in- 

 vention, for while it can be much more severe than 



