ON THE USE OF DIFFERENT REINS. 249 



bridle, but more particularly when they have an 

 additional rein, by which they can more easily hold or 

 pull up their horses. 



For the purpose of properly instructing those light 

 boys in the use of different reins, let us, by way of 

 example, suppose half-a-dozen horses turned round in 

 their stalls with the boys on them, and that the groom 

 is going to give these horses a good brushing gallop. 

 Considering three of these horses to be hard pullers, 

 and to have light boys on them, we will put on each 

 of these horses a snaffle bridle and an additional 

 rein. On the first horse we will put the common 

 mar4iingal and spare martingal rein, — on the second, 

 a gag bit and rein, — and on the third, the mar- 

 tingal running rein. Previous to these horses going 

 out of the stable, the groom gives directions to 

 each boy relative to the rein he has to use. First 

 speaking to the boy who has to ride with the 

 common martingal rein, he says, — " That spare rein 

 you have, is to keep that horse of yours from getting 

 his head up. You had better knot it and let it lay on 

 the horse's neck until you collect your reins. Just 

 before you are going up the gallop, if you find as your 

 horse is going along that he is inclined to get his head 

 up too high for you to get a fair pull at him, then use 

 the rein much in the same manner as with the snaffle 

 rein ; that is, give and take with it so as to keep your 

 horse's mouth alive, and occasionally take a long, 

 gradual, steady pull, until you have got his head 

 down and in place. In this quiet way, you will, as 



