CHAPTER V. 

 RIDING AND HUNTING. 



THE remarks on this subject are especially addressed to those 

 who are beginning to ride and hunt. They are written, as is 

 the following chapter, with a primary view to the horse, not 

 with any idea of teaching the arts of equitation. 



It is assumed that the rider commences with his horse 

 properly bitted and saddled : which means that he has a bridle 

 and saddle to suit ; that the former is the proper length in the 

 head-piece, and that the curb (if one is used) and throat lash are 

 moderately loose, the former to suit the horse's mouth, the 

 latter to be so loose as to allow the horse's head to' be well 

 bent in, with little or no pressure on the throat. 



There are various kinds of bridles used for riding and 

 hunting, and most hunting men have different ideas as to the 

 kind of bit they think horses go best in. The following are 

 the bits chiefly used for hunters. The ordinary bit and 

 bridoon, double bridle, plain or twisted snaffle, gag snaffle, 

 chain snaffle, Newmarket snaffle, ring snaffle, secundo, etc., etc. 

 In Ireland two ordinary bits on one head-piece for pulling 

 horses are greatly used, and they have been highly spoken of 

 as being effectual in stopping " pullers " to a great extent. 



A bit much employed in Kildare, and which is highly ap- 

 proved, is the thick, smooth, ring snaffle, with a single rein, 

 and used with or without a martingale, as the horse may 

 require. 



A " secundo " is a severe bit, and is used chiefly for 



