THE LADY'S HORSE. 15 



told that lie will only go in a snaffle ; for this is a bit no 

 lady can safely use, and indeed very few men, on still 

 fewer horses, with comfort, even if they manage personal 

 security. There are moments in every run when a snaffle 

 fails in its effect. When the horse is half blown and 

 much excited, it is indeed seldom that a snaffle can 

 collect him on to his haunches for a large and intricate 

 jump say a double at the bottom of a hill and the last 

 three fields plough ! A Pelham bridle (no favourite of 

 mine) will suit such horses for a while, at all events : I 

 call it " no favourite" because almost all horses, sooner or 

 later, get to lean on it ; and I use the phrase " for a 

 while," as when the Pelham, after some use, becomes 

 dead and heavy in the mouth, a light double bit will 

 frequently be borne, or, if that be too severe, a shifting 

 Pelham, which is a really serviceable bit, but liable, 

 though in a very much less degree, to the objection 

 entertained towards the simple Pelham. I am rather an 

 advocate for what only just falls short of over-bitting a 

 horse, when the rider's hands can be depended on, and 

 especially with a double bridle ; for in such a case there 

 is the bridoon to hold on by at fences, &c., while the bit, 

 which need seldom be used, is still available in case of 

 sudden excitement or a long career down hill. As a rule, 

 the common double bridle, or the double bridle with a 

 shifting bit, suits more horses than other contrivances at 

 all events for cross-country work. For hacking no 

 invented bridle makes a horse bend and show himself 

 more than the Hanoverian Pelham, which may be of 

 several degrees of severity ; but it is usually too much of 

 a bit for hunting, and is only to be used on the road by 

 ladies whose hands are first-rate and at the risk of being 

 called uncomplimentary, I must observe that light hands 



