THE USE OF THE BRIDLE 



and this understanding is only to be attained by 

 a delicacy of touch, a harmony of intention, and 

 a give-and-take concord, that for lack of a better 

 we express by the term "hand." Like the 

 fingering of a pianoforte, this desirable quality 

 seems rather a gift than an acquirement, and its 

 rarity has no doubt given rise to the multiplicity 

 of inventions with which man's ingenuity en- 

 deavours to supply the want of manual skill. 



It was the theory of a celebrated Yorkshire 

 sportsman, the well - known Mr. Fairfax, that 

 " Every horse is a hunter if you don't throw 

 him down with the bridle ! " and I have always 

 understood his style of riding was in perfect 

 accordance with this daring profession of faith. 

 The instrument, however, though no doubt 

 producing ten falls, where it prevents one, is in 

 so far a necessary evil, that we are helpless 

 without it, and when skilfully used in conjunction 

 with legs, knees, and body by a consummate 

 horseman, would seem to convey the man's 

 intentions to the beast through some subtle 

 agency, mysterious and almost rapid as thought. 

 It is impossible to define the nature of that 

 sympathy which exists between a well-bitted 

 horse and his rider, they seem actuated by a 

 common impulse, and it is to promote or create 

 this mutual understanding that so many re- 

 markable conceits, generally painful, have been 



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