THE SADDLE ROOM 163 



snaffle without cheeks will do very well to exercise 

 most horses in, for unless under the exceptional 

 circumstances of a long rest and too high keeping 

 horses are generally quiet enough at exercise. 

 Still it must be borne in mind that it is impossible 

 to lay down any hard-and-fast rule about the 

 bitting of individual horses. He who is respon- 

 sible for the horse's well-being must be guided by 

 circumstances. 



With the ordinary leading bridle every one is 

 familiar, and it should not be necessary to 

 emphasise the fact that when anything 'plays 

 up ' at exercise it is generally the led horse that 

 is the ringleader and does most mischief. If he 

 ' plays up ' in earnest and he can get his head out 

 one of two things must happen, either his rider 

 will be pulled out of the saddle, or he will get 

 away. But if his head is kept turned slightly 

 towards the man who is riding him he is no longer 

 master of the situation. This is easily managed 

 by buckhng a side rein on to the bit and on to a 

 buckle specially placed for it half-way down the 

 roller. The horse can then easily be kept under 

 control. But it is needless to point out that it is 

 no use having these appliances unless they are 

 used. 



Bridles should be neat and there should not 

 be a scrap of superfluous leather about them. 

 The less there is on a horse's head the better. 

 They may be broadly divided into single and 

 double reined bridles, the single reined ones being 

 chiefly snaffles. To ride a horse in a single curb 



