THE USE OF THE BRIDLE 



powerful conventional double-bridle with no less 

 docility than the most sedate of his stable com- 

 panions. We have seen a great deal of fun 

 together since, but never such a game of romps 

 as our first ! 



Why are so many brilliant horses difficult to 

 ride ? It ought not to be so. The truest shape 

 entails the truest balance, consequently the 

 smoothest paces and the best mouth. The fault 

 is neither of form nor temper, but originates, if 

 truth must be told, in the prejudices of the 

 breaker, who will not vary his system to meet 

 the requirements of different pupils. The best 

 hunters have necessarily great power behind the 

 saddle, causing them to move with their hind 

 legs so well under them, that they will not, and 

 indeed cannot lean on the rider's hand. This the 

 breaker calls "facing their bit," and the shyer 

 they seem of that instrument, the harder he pulls. 

 Up go their heads to avoid the pain, till that 

 effort of self-defence becomes a habit, and it takes 

 weeks of patience and fine horsemanship to undo 

 the effects of unnecessary ill-usage for an hour. 



Eastern horses, being broke from the first in 

 the severest possible bits, all acquire this trick of 

 throwing their noses in the air ; but as they have 

 never learned to pull, for the Oriental prides 

 himself on riding with a finger, you need only 

 give them an easy bridle and a martingale to 



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