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Rural School Leaflet 



The young horse can usually be made familiar with the uses of the 

 bit by the application of the bitting harness, or the dumVj jockey as it 

 is sometimes called. This bitting harness consists of an open bridle \vith 

 large, smooth bit, a checkrein, a surcingle, a crupper, and two side lines 

 running from the bit to buckles on each side of the surcingle. The 

 adjustment of the bridle is important. The length of the headstall must 

 be so adjusted as to bring the bit in mild contact with the bars of the 



;#'V ^ 



Billing harness 



mouth. If the headstall is too short, the bars and the comers of the 

 mouth soon become sore, and the animal may become vicious; on the 

 other hand, if it is too long, the bit drops down in the mouth, and the 

 animal becomes careless. With the bitting harness properly adjusted, 

 the colt may be turned into the familiar open paddock in order to become 

 accustomed to having the bit in his mouth. The checkrein and the 

 side reins should be left slack at first. Gradually from day to day the 

 reins should be shortened, although care must be taken that they are 



