160 THE HORSE. 



to ascertain that every part of the furniture has 

 been rightly placed, both for his own safety and the 

 comfort of the horse. First, of the bridle, that the 

 headstall be of proper length, neither too loose, nor 

 so short as to gall the horse's jaws; the curb-chain 

 hooked in its proper place, leaving the snaffle above 

 and clear; the fore top hair drawn under the band 

 of the bridle; the reins untwisted and even; if a 

 martingale be used, that it run immediately in the 

 centre of the horse's chest. 



That the saddle sit perfectly even and centrical 

 on the horse's back, so placed, according to his form, 

 that his forehand and shoulders may be the boun- 

 dary of its advance forward, yet not so far forward 

 as to impede the motion of his shoulders ; that the 

 girths, buckled one over the other, be sufficiently 

 tight to retain the saddle firmly in its place, without 

 being drawn to that excess as to endanger a rupture 

 of the materials, beside being a source of pain and 

 inconvenience to the horse. The soundness of the 

 tackle generally is a matter of too much consequence 

 to be overlooked. It is but the work of a minute 

 to lift up a horse's feet, and to observe whether the 

 shoes be trustworthy for the occasion. Some readers 

 may probably sneer at these seemingly trifling cau- 

 tions, and demand what kind of groom a gentle- 

 man must have to set him off in a negligent and 

 slovenly manner ? Not to speak of tea-kettle grooms, 

 I can only say that I have witnessed enough of care- 

 lessness in the regulars, and it is scarcely a week 

 since that, passing the house of a man of rank, I saw 

 a young man on horseback leading his master's horse, 



