MARTINGALES. 85 



which object is greatly facilitated by the opposite rein 

 exerting a strong pressure on the neck. 



In regulating the length of the running martingale, 

 we should carefully guard against making it so short 

 that it would interfere with the horse's mouth, when he 

 is not carrying his head unnaturally high ; for such in- 

 terference could have no good result, and would pro- 

 bably impede the animal's movements. Although it is 

 impossible to determine with mathematical accuracy 



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Fig. 49. — Side view of Horse's lower jaw. 



the exact length of this martingale, we find in practice 

 that it should not be shorter than a length which will 

 allow it, when drawn up, to reach as high as the top of 

 the withers. Lengthening it out another three or four 

 inches will generally be an improvement. The use of 

 a running martingale shorter than the minimum I have 

 just laid down, more or less irritates the horse ; be- 

 cause, even when he holds his head in correct position, 

 he cannot escape from its disagreeable pressure. The 

 employment of a short running martingale for 'cross 



