The morning call., 1894-06-17

a horse made blind by tight collar. On
the other hand, if too large it chafes the
shoulders and impedes motion. 1t should
be fitted to the horse by an expert harness.
maker, and seen while the animal is in
motion as well as standing still.
1t should fit so that when he is pulling
the weight of the load shall come
they join the neck, with no pressure
against the windpiDe and the collar
should not play up and down. The names
are of metal curved to ut the collar
snugly, Joined at the top and bottom with
small straps. They are laid over the col
lar and buckled at the bottom in adjusting.
To these the traces are attached and the
point Of attachment is of Importance. If
it is too high or too low the animal works
al n disadvantage. The point of draught
d iffers in different horses, but the best
authorities agree that the trace should be
attached as nearly as possible opposite to
the center Of the Snoulderblade. This
point, it is worth while TO note, is about an
inch higher than the hame rings, which re-
celye the traces, are usually placed on
the thames of con- merce"-those made
for the wholesale trade.
Thus much il You are proposing TO drive
your equine companion. Ii he has been
educated to perform double duty you are
fortunate, and rightly managed, many
horsenen to the contrary nOtw outstanding
the dual service is not conflicting. If,
then, you ri0e your friend there are other
matters to be considered.
A riding bride differs quite materially
from one used in driving. In city riding,
where smartness and effect are aimed at,
the riding bride is usually double. There
are times when this arrangement is both
convenient and desirable. In park and
high" riding and in riding to hounds t1e
two bits and sets of TeiuS give a complete
ness and accuracy of control understandable
Dy any other contrlVance except the usu-
ally brutal and always unsightlv Spanish
bit A horse that will behave well with
sna1f1e bit ought never to be ridden with
curb, but 1t sometimes happens that even
usually gentle and tTactable horse will
sometimes require curb, and the double
bride is then desirable, the severe curb
and the Spanish bit, being both apt to de-
priye the horse of that freedom about the
head that is desirable, often, in fact, neces-
Sary 10 safety in crOss-cOuntTy riding,
where fences and bitches are TO be taken.
Sometimes instead of an ordinary curb bit
Dit with moderately long bars and both
curb and snati- rings is very useful. For
ordinary use, however. 1t Is customary TO
employ only the curb. and in this part of
the country the double bride is rarely
seen.
In adjusting the riding bride see to 1t
that the cheek-straps are loose enough to
be comfortable while holding the bit
properly in place. The throat latchet
should be looser than in the driving bride
to allow the neck to qrci and the nose to
be brought in. II too tight the
animal will thrust his nose fOrv ard and
look uDgainly and awkward. The bit
should not rest upon the bars or that part
OF the gum where appears an open space
between the grinding teeth and the in
clsOrs, and the curb-strap-a strap is
always better than chain-snould be
loose enough to allow you TO slip your
hnger under II. This is important. The
curb-stTap is intended 20 Increase leverage
on the bit by preventing il from turning
too freely in the mouth. but it is possible,
with 100 tight curb. TO break a horses
Jaw by slight pull on the reins. The
strap should rest comfortably in the chin
groove as shown in the accom- panyiDg cut.
have searched in vain among works on
horsemanshlp for some practical light on
the subject of side-saddles. These books,
written by men, dismiss the subject in a
paragraph, but every hOrsewoman knows
that the matter is one of paramount i'm
Dortance. The saddle recommended bv
horsemen nearly always turns up in the
back. This is supposed to give additional
security of seat, but it is nuisance, as is
also the rim with W hich the seat is usually
surrounded, giving the rider a sen sation as
of sitting on a dish. The saddle should be
well arched over the witbers, one made on
the RalStOn tree is particularly good in
this regard. and should when in position
permit at least two fingers to be inserted
between it and the withers. 1t should be
well padded. Saddle-makers are making
a good manv of late merely lined with
leather, as are some Of the best cross
saddles, but these are apt to slip, owing
TO the nature of the side seat, the blankets
work from beneath and the horse gets a
sore back.
Perhaps the most satisfactory side-sad-
die is that made on the Morgan tree, with
out the upturned cantel or the objection
able rim. | should be covered with buck
skin, never with smooth leather. or with
plush. which often causes the habit to
ride up" very unpleasantly. 1t should
have the leaping-hOrn c'third horny,
but the horn on the right is neither Orna.
mental nor Of use. The best possible
strrup is of wood. with leathern guard,
and there should always be two good
girths. If your horse is low on the with
ers or tucked up" in the TANKS you may
even require three.
So many ladies are of late adopting the
eross-saddle and bifurcated skirt that a