RIDING RECOLLECTIONS 



the two, and to counteract It has been constructed 

 the instrument we call "a gag." 



This is neither more nor less than another 

 snaffle bit, of which the head-stall and rein, instead 

 of being separately attached to the rings, are in 

 one piece running through a swivel, so that a 

 leverage is obtained on the side of the mouth of 

 such power as forces the horse's head upwards to 

 its proper level. In a gag and snaffle no horse 

 can continue "boring," as it is termed, against his 

 rider's hand ; in a gag and curb he is indeed a 

 hard puller who will attempt to run away. 



But with this bridle, adieu to all those delicacies 

 of fingering which form the great charm of 

 horsemanship, and are indeed the master-touches 

 of the art. A gag cannot be drawn gently 

 through the mouth with hands parted and lowered 

 on each side so as to " turn and wind a fiery 

 Pegasus," nor is the bull - headed beast that 

 requires it one on which, without long and patient 

 tuition, you may hope to "witch the world with 

 noble horsemanship." It is at best but a school- 

 master, and like the curbless Pelham in which my 

 horse ran away with me, only a step in the right 

 direction towards such willing obedience as we 

 require. Something has been gained when our 

 horse learns we have power to control him ; 

 much v/hen he finds that power exerted for his 

 own advantage. I would ride mine in a chain- 



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