THE NECK, THE HEAD, ETC. 141 



within comparatively few years, were riding-masters' 

 pupils of one kind or another ; and it was only in the 

 British Island s that a numerous class of natural riders 

 was to be found. The Continental riders have had, 

 therefore, all more or less of a military or school type. 

 There existed until recently only one general style of 

 riding, saddling, bitting, carriage, and feeling amongst 

 them, varying, however, very much as to correctness in 

 different countries. Of late years, no doubt, a great 

 change has taken place in this respect, and what is 

 called English riding has been more or less success- 

 fully imitated or caricatured in various parts of the 

 Continent. 



Now the English type of riding has been formed by 

 the national sports of racing and hunting, both of which 

 require vehement straightforward riding in the first in- 

 stance, and only a certain amount of handiness or dex- 

 terity in turning ; and it is therefore neither desirable, 

 nor indeed practicable, to give either the neck or head 

 of the horse anything like the same position that other 

 styles of riding admit of or require. Therefore the system 

 of bitting must be different to a certain extent. 



In fact, whenever it is possible, the jockey prefers 

 riding his horse with a snaffle, and the best hunting- 

 riders seem to be of the same opinion ; and when they 

 do use a curbed bit, it is most generally either as a sort 

 of reserve for particular emergencies, or in combination 

 with a bridoon (using all four reins), by means of 

 which the action of the bit is very much weakened. 

 There are, however, a great number of racers and 

 hunters whose tempers, or desire " to go," require the 

 permanent use of a curbed bit, and hitting-off the proper 

 form and size of this is sometimes a matter of great 



