92 BITS AND BRIDLE GEAR. 



curb, it is unadvisable to attach a standing martingale to 

 that bit. 



In the adjustment of the standing martingale, the maximum 

 length is evidently that which is just sufficient to prevent the 

 animal from shifting the mouth-piece from the bars to the 

 corners of the mouth (Fig. 104). The minimum length 

 for merely keeping down the head, would, of course, 

 be that which would be requisite to bring the head down 

 to the highest natural position, say, that in Fig. 105. It 

 is manifest that these lengths can be obtained only approxi- 

 matively, and that they would in many cases require 

 correction after trial. To check pulling and running out, 

 the martingale could be further shortened as might be 

 needed. For riding over a country, I would not use this 

 martingale shorter than the minimum just given. 



We now come to the important question : — Is it safe to 

 ride a horse in a standing martingale, if he has not been 

 accustomed to it ? My answer to this very practical query 

 is that it would be unwise to do so, if he was a rearer, or if he 

 was to be ridden over fences ; but that the standing martin- 

 gale would be a useful aid in all other cases. To avoid 

 every chance of accident, it would of course be advisable to 

 give an unaccustomed animal some instruction with this 

 martingale before testing it too highly. The best and 

 quickest way to impart this lesson is according to the " long 

 rein " method described in Illustrated Horse-breaking. Or, 

 while riding the horse, we may gradually accustom him to 

 this martingale by beginning with it quite loose, and 

 shortening it a hole at a time with suitably long intervals. 

 When a horse has become used to it, but is too artful to 

 renounce his defence when he finds that his head is free from 

 its restraint, it is certainly safer, even when crossing a country, 

 to employ this martingale, in order to make him look where 

 he is going, than to allow him to stare straight up into the 



