i 3 o THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



things there is a happy medium, so is there in the 



present instance ; and the happy medium is here 



as elsewhere — after all but common-sense. Both 



headstall and reins should be invariably sewn on 



to the bit, for the reasons I have given before when 



making mention of watering bridles ; and all buckles 



should be of plated metal, and not covered with 



leather. The leather should be of its own natural 



colour, and not coloured with saffron or any such 



stuff, as is often the case with cheap saddlery. As 



a rule, only one rein, the snaffle, is made to buckle 



in its middle ; but I think it an advantage to have 



a buckle on both snaffle and bit reins. As I have 



before observed in another part of this book, it is 



quite inadmissible to use any coloured browband ; 



nothing but plain leather, the same as the reins, 



should ever be worn. All reins, excepting those 



which are used with a gag-snaffle, should be flat. 



One not infrequently sees ladies' bridles made with 



round reins, and at times there is also an addition 



in the shape of a sort of tassel of leather which 



hangs under the horse's throat, and perhaps a 



frino-e of leather adorning the horse's nose. Can 



bad taste extend further ? One always looks for 



the green velvet habit, long white gauntlets, and 



spangles of the circus-rider also. Of late years, I 



am glad to say, this sort of adornment has very 



