THE USE OF THE BRIDLE 



bridoon rein, you can no longer indicate approval. 

 To avoid its control he must lean on the dis- 

 comfort of his curb, and it puzzles no less than it 

 discourages him, to find that every effort to please 

 you is met, one way or the other, by restraint. 

 So much for his convenience ; now for your own. 

 I will suppose you are using- the common hunting 

 martingale, attached to the breastplate of your 

 saddle, not to its girths. Be careful that the 

 rings are too small to slip over those of the curb- 

 bit ; you will be in an awkward predicament if, 

 after rising at a fence, your horse in the moment 

 that he tries to extend himself finds his nose tied 

 down to his knees. 



Neither must you shorten it too much at first : 

 rather accustom your pupil gradually to its 

 restraint, and remember that all horses are not 

 shape'd alike ; some are so formed that they must 

 needs carry their heads higher, and, as you choose 

 to think, in a worse place than others. Tuition 

 in all its branches cannot be too gradual, and 

 nature, whether of man or beast, is less easily 

 driven than led. The first consideration in 

 riding is, no doubt, to make our horses do what 

 we desire ; but when this elementary object has 

 been gained, it is of great importance to our 

 comfort that they should accept our wishes as 

 their own, persuaded that they exert themselves 

 voluntarily in the service of their riders. For 



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