298 HORSEMANSHIP. 



race, and knowing that, if a foot of either of them 

 should strike or get locked in that of another, a 

 fall is the inevitable consequence. Besides, no 

 horse can exert his utmost speed for any length of 

 time, unless he will allow himself to be handled by 

 his rider, and pulled well together, to prevent his 

 over-striding as well as over-pacing himself. These 

 check-reins can all be used with the double curb- 

 bridle, if necessary, though they seldom are, with 

 the exception of the first, the common martingal- 

 rein. It is pleasant to see a race-horse go with his 

 head in a good place in a simple snaffle-bridle, 

 without any additional reins ; and no doubt it must 

 be as agreeable to the horse, but it is rather a rare 

 sight, and particularly with young things. That 

 the snaffle-bit is the best in which the race-horse 

 can be ridden, there cannot be a doubt, not merely 

 on account of his being able to support himself to 

 a certain degree in his gallop, by leaning upon it 

 to the extent his rider permits him, but because 

 his jockey can pull his head any way he likes, to 

 the right or to the left ; as in a turn, for instance, 

 or to avoid treadins: on another horse's heels which 

 is before him ; whereas the curb-bit only acts in a 

 straight line. It is better, however, to have re- 

 course to the curb than to let a hard-pulling race- 

 horse get the better of his jockey, and overpace 

 himself at any period of his race. 



We will now bring our jockey to the starting- 

 post, where the first thing he does is to strip. 

 Having inspected the saddling of his horse, and 

 found every thing about him secure, he cocks up 



