PARTS OF A BRIDLE. 131 



much Qfone out of fashion, and women are more 

 sensibly attired, both on and off horseback ; and 

 they turn out better, and, I may add, ride better, 

 too, than in former days, and such monstrosities in 

 the way of saddlery as the above are going out of 

 fashion. 



A bridle consists of the following parts, viz. : 

 headstall, browband, reins, throat-lash, and (at 

 times) a noseband ; but this latter is only used 

 where necessary to keep a horse from ' yawing ' his 

 mouth open, and when used is better fitted on its 

 own headstall — what is called a headstall nose- 

 band. Where a snaffle onlv is used the headstall is 

 single ; but where an ordinary double bit, bit and 

 bridoon, or curb and snaffle (and it is called by all 

 three names), is worn, then the headstall is double, 

 one portion being for the snaffle, and the other for 

 the bit, and there are, of course, reins attached to 

 both bit and snaffle. 



As a rule, snaffles are, and should be, furnished 

 with double reins when used alone, as they are, of 

 course, safer than a single rein could be. 



There are nearly as many different kinds of bits as 

 there are days in the year. I think before I enter 

 upon the subject of them (and I only intend to refer 

 to those which are practical, and not fancy bits) it will 

 be as well if I endeavour, in as few words as possible, 



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