KNOWLEDGE OF THE STABLE 203 



bit. It should have a headstall and 

 cheek -pieces, and be buckled tight 

 enough to prevent the horse from 

 opening his mouth too wide, but it 

 must not restrain his breathing. 



If a martingale is used, I much pre- 

 fer a running to a standing one. It 

 is useful with star-gazers or 



Martingale 



horses that get their noses out 

 too far. Some horses need one to steady 

 them in hunting, but the running mar- 

 tingale is the only one which should be 

 tolerated in jumping, and then not be 

 used unless necessary. It is attached 

 to a girth, and at the two upper ends 

 are sewed rings through which the snaf- 

 fle passes. With a running martingale 

 there must be a stop on each snaffle, 

 considerably larger than the rings of 

 the martingale ; otherwise there is dan- 

 ger of these rings getting caught in the 

 bits, frightening the horse, and making 



