14 HORSE AND MAN. 



horse is well broken he will not require its use. I would 

 recommend its employment only when the teacher has not 

 time or knowledge to properly break in a horse. It would be 

 well to put it on a horse which we are going to ride for the 

 first time, whether for hacking or for hunting, if we had 

 reason to think that he threw his head about or carried it 

 too high. 



There are three kinds of martingales, namely, the standing 

 or -fixed martingale buckled on to the nose-band, the running 

 martingale, and the standing martingale buckled on to the 

 rings of the snaffle. The first is the only one I would 

 recommend, because it produces its effect on the animal's 

 nose and not on his mouth, and, being unconnected with the 

 rider's hands, its use is consequently free from danger. It 

 ought to be long enough to allow the horse to carry his head 

 high, and short enough to prevent him bringing his nose in a 

 horizontal position, in which case the curb, by revolving from 

 below upwards, would produce no effect on the mouth. If 

 the martingale is too short, it will interfere with the move- 

 ments of the horse, and can then become dangerous, especially 

 if he does not go freely forward ; because when it is fixed in 

 this manner, he will draw his chin in towards his breast so as 

 to escape from its action. 



The running martingale has two rings, through which pass 

 the reins of the snaffle, and occasionally those of the curb, 

 which is a very dangerous arrangement. It is therefore con- 

 nected with the hands of the rider and the mouth of the 

 horse. It may be of great service to experienced riders, but 

 on account of the strong effect which can be produced with 

 it, it is particularly dangerous for other people. 



The martingale which buckles on to the rings of the 

 snaffle, being unyielding, is always dangerous, particularly if 

 the horse runs back ; because, in this case, it will continue to 

 pull on his mouth. If he rears, which he will have a ten- 



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