THE BIT-AND-BKIDOON FOR SADDLE HORSES. 



57 



and his duties, of a kind and sympathetic master, who 

 would enjoy his rides more if there was more social in- 

 tercourse between them and more use made of the voice 

 and less of the bit. 



THE CURB. 



The curb should be outside of the bridoon bit, for if 

 inside of it the constant pressure of the bit on the curb 

 would hurt and chafe the under jaw-bone. Yet we often 

 see it hooked on mside, more from ignorance, j^erhaps, 

 than from any judgment or fixed ideas on the subject, 

 which is the excuse we offer for noticing it. 



THE MARTIi^^GALE. 



When the bridoon rein is drawn straight to about one 

 inch above the pummel of the saddle, the rings of the 

 martingale should just hang easy on them when the 

 horse holds his head in its normal position (tig. 18). If he 



.^."'Vsi/^jgr^A,i 



Fig. 18.— ON THE BRrDOON. 



Fig. 19.— ON THE CURB. 



attempts to throw his head up the martingale will, at this 

 length, check him. In leaping, the martingale must be 

 lengthened and wholly powerless, else the horse may 

 be thrown over the fence. As trips, falls and other ac- 

 cidents are always possible, the bridoon rein should be 

 always in hand, held firmly, yet not drawn tight, and 

 the horse should always feel its pressure lightly, while 

 the curb bit is kept in reserve for occasional use ; but on 

 no account, occasion or consideration should the curb 



