98 BITS AND BRIDLE GEAR, 



find that the great value of this martingale is to aid the rider 

 in turning a horse by keeping his neck straight, when cantering 

 or galloping, 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 interference could have no 

 good result, and would probably impede the animal's move- 



Fig. 109 Natural Position of Head in Canter. 



ments. Although it is impossible to determine with mathe- 

 matical accuracy the proper length of this martingale, we may 

 from experience fix a minimum length which will answer 

 practical requirements. Assuming, therefore, that the height 

 of the head when it is carried in a natural manner at fast 

 paces, is not greater, or only slightly greater, than that which 

 would bring the reins horizontal when they are held on a line 

 with the withers, as in Fig. 109, we may take the length of 

 the martingale which would be suitable to that position of 



