112 " 1, 2, 3, AND AWAY/' IN DIFFERENT WAYS. 



in either case all the support we can give is by the 

 bridle, or, in more sporting phrase, keeping fast hold 

 of their heads. " Keep fast hold of his head, Jem," 

 is no uncommon direction to an exercise-lad. This 

 is all very well and very proper where it can be done ; 

 but I should like to see the lad or man who could do 

 so with a devil carrying his head like No. 1. The 

 rein on the martingal shows where the head should 

 be, and would be if the martingal was used, but 

 where it is, we have no earthly hold of the brute. 

 No. 2. has his head in a position that may enable a 

 man just to guide him ; but any support is out of the 

 question : attempt to give it, and his head would go 

 to position No. 1. Now No. 3. has his head just in 

 the place that would enable the rider to give him 

 support, and by throwing his body back, and slightly 

 clapping the spurs to his horse's sides, he would 

 induce him in a drop-leap to throw out his forelegs, 

 or, if in the act of blundering, would prevent his 

 actually coming on his knees. 



I have thus far endeavoured to show that per- 

 mitting a horse to throw up his head when and as 

 high as he pleases- can in no way be advantageous, 

 and that preventing his doing so can, by no mode of 

 reasoning, be attended by disadvantage. I have not 

 yet done with arguments to prove this. I conceive 

 most men will agree with me that a horse which does 

 not require any martingal is preferable to the one 

 that does. Why does the one require none ? Simply 

 because he never puts his head in a position to re- 



