SADDLERY by E. Hartley Edwards

An old-fashioned book but with very good information on many pieces of saddlery

Re Market Harborough

" The action is a simple one and is operated not by the rider's hand, but by the horse's head. While the horse carries his head correctly, the strips passing through the bit rings are slack and inoperative; they tighten and exert their downward pull on the bit, and consequently on the bars of the mouth, only when the head is thrown upwards. There is absolutely no restriction on the extension of the head and neck while jumping, and it is extremely good on a headstrong horse."

Re Chambon and De Gogue:

"They are of French origin and with a similar action achieve the same object, which is to induce a lowering and stretching of the head and neck. The result of this, apart from breaking down the resistance in these parts and suppling the relative muscles, is to raise the base of the neck (the balancing agent of the horse) and to exercise the muscles of the back and loins, enabling the back to be rounded, with the consequent engagement of the hocks."

Re bits:

"Of every 20 bits I make nineteen are for men's heads and one for the horse's,,,"