70 The Compkat Horseman : or. 



CHAP. XVIII. 



Directions for freferving Horfes found upon 

 Travel. 



FIrft fee that his Shoes be not too ftrait and prefs 

 his Feet, but be exactly (haped, and let him be 

 Shod fome days before you begin a Journey, that 

 they may be fettled to his Feet. 



You are next to fee that he be accommodated with 

 a Bitt proper for him, and by no means too heavy, 

 which may incline him to carry low, or to reft up- 

 on the Hand when he grows weary, which we call 

 making life of his fifth Leg.. The mouth of the 

 Bitt mould reft upon his Barrs, about half a Fin- 

 ger's breadth above his Tufhes, and not make him 

 to frumple his Lips. The Curb mould reft in the 

 hollow of the Beard, a little above the Chin, and 

 if it gall him, you muft defend the place with a piece 

 of Buff or foft Leather. 



The n^xt thing to be obferved is, That the Saddle 

 do not reft upon his Withers, Reins, or Back Bone •, 

 and that 210 part of it do more prefs his Back than 

 another. 



To know if it reft equally over all, caufe fome 

 Perfon to get upon it, and if the Toes or Points of 

 the Saddle's Fore-bow prefs too much theHorfe's 

 Sides, then the upper part of it will be void and 

 hollow, and not ciofe enough to the Horfe's Back, 

 and fo the Saddle will be too narrow in its Toes or 

 Points : But if the Points of the Fore-bow be too 

 wide and open, then they will not touch him at all 

 In that part, but the upper-part of the Saddle will 

 prefs him a little below the Withers, and fo hurt 

 and pinch his Shoulders, or occafion Sit-fafts, which 

 cure difficult to cure. 



So 



