88 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



them in, so that the palm of your hand shall go beneath 

 the under lip of the horse, and the back portion of your two 

 fingers be exposed to the pressure of the chain ; then draw 

 the reins quietly with your right hand, and if you feel an 

 unpleasant pinching, slacken the chain a link, and try 

 again until you have it right. I said in my last chapter 

 that the action of the mouth-piece on the bars of the mouth 

 was entirely controlled by the branches, which also regu- 

 late that of the curb-chain, both on chin and bars. The 

 pressure which it effects on these constrains the horse to 

 obey the will of his rider. Now, when the curb-chain is 

 left to hang in too loose a fashion, the pressure cannot be 

 effected at all, and the branches go backwards, because 

 they meet with no resistance from the curb-chain : and 

 thus the action of the cannons on the bars of the mouth 

 is altogether defeated. 



Saddling comes next to be spoken about. Place the saddle 

 clear of the play of the shoulders, if meant for hunting ; 

 when the adjustment is for ordinary riding, an inch or two 

 further back will do. It is a common error to place the 

 saddle out of position, in order to make it appear as if the 

 horse bridled better, or had a finer shoulder than he really 

 has ; but it is a very wrong thing to practice constantly, 

 and can only deceive the most inexperienced judge's eye. 



If you want a horse to go particularly fast for a short 

 distance, you may adjust the saddle so that it shall be as 

 far forward as possible without interfering with his action : 

 as the chief office of the hinder part of an animal is to 

 propel weight, while that of the fore part is to bear it up. 



