B/^£SS AND EQUIPMENT 97 



very few grooms take much note. The cheek 

 of the bit should be pressed back, to see that 

 the pressure of the curb comes i.n the right 

 place, and that the chain does not rub against 

 the horse's chin unless intended to do so. If 

 the bit be put right in the horse's mouth, the 

 curb-chain will be no inconvenience to the 

 horse till the rider pulls the rein. 



The mere alteration of a bridle in a horse's 

 mouth will often make all the difference to his 

 stvle of QToino- so narrow is the difference 

 between doing things in the right and the 

 wronor wav. 



From bits to saddles is an easy transition, 

 and of the latter I have not much to say. If 

 you can possibly afford it, it is sound economy 

 to have your saddles from a really good maker, 

 and to have one to each horse. This saddle 

 should be fitted to the horse's back by a careful 

 saddler, and should be used for no other horse. 

 The stuffing will require some alteration after 

 Christmas, as by that time most horses in a 

 small stable will have worked somewhat light 

 in flesh. A numnah is quite useless if the 

 saddles are properly stuffed and made. The 

 poor man cannot afford to be economical in his 

 saddles, he must have good saddles from good 

 makers. A plain Hap saddle seems to me the 

 more comfortable kind, but that is a matter of 



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