224 LADIES ON HORSEBACK. 



prevent rearing on the first attempt if the horse's 

 head is kept down tightly by this martingale 

 attached to the breastplate, but as the latter is 

 seldom worn except for hunting, it cannot be 

 intended to recommend it for that purpose, for 

 it would infallibly follow that the fixed martin- 

 gale would bring both horse and rider to grief at 

 the very first fence they attempted to clear, 

 and if the horse had sufficient liberty of action 

 to jump freely, the martingale would be no 

 obstruction to his rearing. I know from my 

 own experience that a horse can be knocked 

 down by a blow on the head. I was once 

 doing a little private mounted practice at 

 sword exercise, preparatory to a prize com- 

 petition, and grasping my sword with thick 

 gloves on, the weapon somehow turned in 

 my hand, caught my mare below the ear on 

 the bridle-hand, and knocked her completely 

 off her legs, to our mutual amazement, though 

 no great harm was done. I do not see what 

 analogy there can be between the powerful 

 Chifney bit and a rearing martingale; 

 the effect of the latter may be secured by 

 attaching a split martingale, with leather or 



