THE BIT. 21 



Many and various are the bits in use, originating 

 chiefly with the trade, and partly the inventions of 

 those who, unable to control their horses, sought as- 

 sistance in bits of different sorts. For instance, when 

 a horse carries his nose up, a bit with long checks 

 was recommended, which, by adding to the power 

 of the lever, should assist the hand to pull in the 

 horse's nose bv sheer strens-th. In this case, if the 

 horse has never been taught to yield to the pressure 

 of the bit, and to bring his head in, he will set his 

 jaw against the bit to alleviate the pain he sufl:ers, 

 and thus adopts a way of his own, which he will 

 ever after recur to in similar circumstances. 



Other bits again are such instruments of torture, 

 that they either deaden all sensation in the horse's 

 mouth, which becomes numbed, from the excessive 

 pressure stopping the circulation of the blood, or 

 they drive a horse frantic with pain, and no power 

 the rider can exert with his legs, can bring the ani- 

 mal to face such a bit ; the horse, therefore, remains 

 behind the hand, and " hand and leg" cannot work 

 toc^ether. 



A light bit is therefore strongly recommended, and 

 in the following lessons, it will be explained how to 

 use it and obtain obedience. In the United States 

 service, the snaffle in connection with the bit, was a 

 few years since discarded from the bridle, and though 

 after the horse is trained the snaffle may be dis- 

 pensed with, in the following lessons its use will 



