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 movements 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 connected 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-