156 BITS AND BITTING. 



race-horses is so distinct and peculiar a branch of riding, 

 that it seems almost presumptuous to offer even a 

 suggestion on the subject ; but we are quite certain 

 that the halter here described would be of great value 

 to trainers, saving them much trouble, and eventually 

 diminishing the number of bolters and difficult starters 

 very considerably, and thus giving many a horse a 

 fairer chance than he would otherwise have. Of course 

 it is not meant that the halter should be used otherwise 

 than during the first period of handling ; in actual 

 running it would interfere too much with the animal's 

 respiration. 



The great value of being able to keep the horse's 

 head in a proper position has been frequently dwelt 

 upon in these pages. It is a matter with which almost 

 every rider is acquainted, and the number of martin- 

 gales, running-reins, and other contrivances invented 

 especially to attain this object furnish an evidence of its 

 great desirableness. Some of these are intended to act 

 on the horse's nose, and are therefore nearly worthless ; 

 others, again, are fixed, and consequently more or less 

 dangerous, besides requiring frequent alterations of 

 buckles, &c., to make them suit ; a third class act on 

 the reins, and, interfering with the direction in which 

 the pull on the latter is exercised, are wholly in- 

 admissible ; some few act directly 011 the bit or snaffle. 

 To be really efficient, safe, and applicable under all cir- 

 cumstances, the running-rein or martingale should act 

 directly on the snaffle or bridoon itself,* be wholly inde- 

 pendent of the reins, and afford a facility for adjusting 

 its action, or altogether putting an end to it, without 



* It is both useless and dangerous to interfere with, the action of 

 the bit by means of such contrivances. 



