102 THE REAHING BIT. 



inonly applied to young horses, and is of the greatest 

 use in keeping their heads steady, in proper place, 

 and preventing them from avoiding the restraint of the 

 bit by throwing them up. Now with both these assist- 

 ants a man may add to or relax their restraint by 

 his hands, or, in a more riding phrase, may give and 

 take with his horse : in fact, no description of bridle 

 or martingal is fit for general use that in any way 

 prevents his doing this to its fullest extent. 



We will call No. 3. the racing-martingal, coming 

 from the girths to the hand-reins. This is the 

 martingal whose utility I contend for con amore. 



No. 4. is the severest of all descriptions of mar- 

 tingals, and only to be used on a very determined 

 rearing or plunging horse, and as a severe punish- 

 ment in case he does either. It consists of a ring of 

 iron made in the shape of a heart, with rings on each 



side v / to fasten the head-stall to, and two more 



A\ /* 



near the bottom to receive two billets, which end in 

 a strap that goes to the girths, supported by the neck- 

 strap, similar to the one in common use to the racing 

 or hunting martingal. The strap, going to the girths, 

 may of course be lengthened or shortened to any 

 degree, by which latter process the severity of the 

 restraint is increased. The way it should be put on 

 is this. Put the wide part of the bit in the mouth, 

 and the narrow part under the jaw ; the headstall 

 must be left just long enough to allow the bit to rest 

 on the bars of the mouth, behind the tusks, and 

 beneath the riding bit (of whatever kind that may 

 be) ; then bring your horse's head as low as you 

 wish it to be. If he is only moderately restive, about 



