i64 THE COMPLETE HORSEMAN 



requires exceptionally fine hands and it is very 

 seldom done now-a-days. The double reined 

 bridles consist of curb and bridoon ; a double 

 reined plain snaffle, which is sometimes used ; and a 

 snaffle with a gag. 



The component parts of a bridle are the head- 

 stall, browband, reins, and throat latch. Some- 

 times a noseband is added. The headstall should 

 not be too heavy, and it should be well pro- 

 portioned ; by which I mean that though there 

 will necessarily be buckles at each side to admit 

 of it being let out or taken up according to the 

 length of the horse's head, these buckles should 

 only be used to a limited extent. A bridle that 

 is all ' strap and buckle ' at the sides is very 



The browband should be of the same colour 

 and material as the bridle. A coloured brow- 

 band is very vulgar. The throat latch should 

 be a reasonable length and care should be taken 

 in fastening it that it is not drawn too tight and 

 yet is tight enough to prevent the bridle being 

 pulled off in case of a fall. A man feels sufficiently 

 awkw^ard when he is left with his bridle in his hand 

 and sees his horse careering gaily away in the 

 distance. 



Never use a noseband on a horse unless he 

 really requires one. It is a sound axiom which 

 cannot be too strongly impressed upon the 

 reader that the correct taste in everything apper- 

 taining to horse furniture is severe. The nose- 

 band is to keep the horse's upper and lower jaws 



