THE SHOW HORSE 97 



reply was that the horse would not go into his 

 bridle and that he could not make him. A few 

 days afterwards I saw this horse at another show, 

 and was surprised to see that he was the old 

 horse of a former day. He made a magnificent 

 show and when I met his rider I asked him what 

 he had been doing with the horse. '' I changed 

 his bridle " was the reply. The fact was that 

 moderate handling had spoiled the horse's mouth 

 for the bridle he had generally been ridden in, 

 and the intelligence of the rider found the ' key ' 

 to his mouth. I remarked that I thought he 

 would have won and wondered why he did not 

 and I was told that he was in no condition and 

 ' tired ' the last time the judges rode him. 

 *' There are so few can keep show horses right " 

 was the not unnatural comment of both of us, 

 for the horse had come from a good stable and 

 looked all right. 



