296 HORSEMANSHIP. 



with the least force, is the best and most service- 

 able, as well as most agreeable to a horse. 



Considering the variety of horses of all forms, 

 shapes, and tempers, that a jockey in much repute 

 rides in the course of a year, the necessity for a 

 good bridle-hand is obvious. Some thorough-bred 

 ones have their necks set so low on their shoulders, 

 that they bend first down, then upwards, like a 

 stag's ; and were it not for the power of their rider, 

 such horses would absolutely look him in the face. 

 Others have the upper line of their necks, from the 

 ears to the withers, too short. A head attached to 

 such a neck as this is very difficult to bring into a 

 good place, because the inflexibility of it will not 

 admit of its forming an arch ; for in long and short- 

 necked horses the number of the vertebrse, or neck- 

 bones, are the same. On the other hand, some 

 horses' necks are as loose as if they had joints in 

 them, and consequently have the power of tossing 

 up their nose almost in defiance of their rider's 

 hand. Others get their heads down in their gallop, 

 in the act of reaching to get more liberty of rein, 

 snatching at their rider's hand with great force. 

 Some pull very hard, and others will not pull 

 enough. Were it not, then, for the tackle in which 

 these low-necked, short-necked, stiflP-necked, loose- 

 necked, snatching, pulling horses are ridden in, 

 even the fine hand and firm seat of a first-rate 

 jockey would not be a match for them ; and, as it 

 is, it is as much as he can do to manage them ; 

 but they would be nearly their own masters with a 

 man on their back who had neither one nor the 



