HEAD-STALLS. 53 



head-stall and reins are sewn on to a bit, the sewing, as in 

 Fig. 64, should be kept sufficiently away from the steel to 

 facilitate cleaning, and to allow the attached straps to work 

 freely on their respective rings. I prefer the sewing to be 

 oval (Fig. 63), rather than in straight lines (Fig. 49). 



While retaining the convenience of buckles, the neat ap- 

 pearance of the sewing may to a certain extent be secured 



Fig. 69. Stud Billets. Fig. 70. Spring Hook. 



by means of stud billets (Fig. 69). I like spring hooks 

 (Fig. 70) to connect the bit to the head-stall, because they 

 are even more handy than buckles for removing or replacing 

 the bit ; they allow the rings of the bit to work very freely on 

 them ; they look neat ; and they are fairly secure ; but I do 

 not think that they are reliable enough for reins. They 

 are certainly more apt to give way than stud billets, under 



