KNOWLEDGE OF THE STABLE 201 



she will not perceive that anything is 

 wrong until too late to prevent mis- 

 chief. She should learn to hold the 

 bridle by the headstall, in her left hand, 

 as with the right she slips off the 

 horse's halter, and throws the reins over 

 his head. Then change it to the right 

 hand, putting her left on the bits, which 

 she gently inserts between his jaws. 

 With the right she must pull his ears 

 under the headstall, and then turn her 

 attention to fitting the bridle. 



She must see that the headstall fits, 

 that the forehead-band is not too tight, 

 and that there is plenty of room be- 

 tween the throat-latch and the throat. 

 The snaffle-rein is fitted by the buckles 

 of the cheek-piece, and should fall a 

 trifle below the angle of the mouth. 

 The curb needs careful adjustment, that 

 the mouth-piece may rest exactly on 

 the bars of the mouth. Then the chain 



