THE SADDLE ROOM 173 



is either attached to a noseband, or to the rings 

 of the snaffle. The latter plan is preferable as 

 giving more power over the horse. The object 

 of the standing martingale is to prevent a horse 

 throwing his head about, or stretching it out too 

 far. I do not like it for cross-country work 

 though I have occasionally used it on horses 

 which were not very easy to manage. But not- 

 withstanding Mr. J. H. Moore's high opinion of it, 

 and the fact that many chasers — including the 

 well-known Scots Grey, could not be kept straight 

 without its means, I do not hke it in the hunting 

 field. The running martingale has a good effect 

 in making the horse bend and turn easily in his 

 canter or gallop. It is generally worn rather too 

 long to have much effect upon the place in which 

 he carries his head. Sometimes the martingale 

 is attached to the curb rein and I like it there 

 myself when the object of using the martingale is 

 to make a horse bend and carry his head properly. 

 When this is the object the martingale should be 

 short, and the horse ridden well up into his bit. 

 He will soon drop his head to the hand. Of 

 course a short martingale is a source of danger in 

 the hunting field. 



Of spurs all that need be said is that long 

 necks and long sharp rowels are to be avoided. 

 Many men tear their horses needlessly because 

 they will wear these absurd spurs. Spurs with 

 necks three inches long or approaching thereto 

 are very ugly and they remind one of Mr. Spongers 

 remarks about the '' bossiest man on foot and 



