HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP 115 



the reins, and take hold of the right bit rein, about four inches 

 from the ring of the bit, at the same time take the left bit rein 

 in the left hand, close to the ring, and quietly, by drawing the 

 right hand back a little, and bringing the left hand forward, turn 

 the bit in the horse's mouth, so as to get a little bend to the 

 right. When he has done this gently, he should unbend him 

 again, make much of him, and going to the off side repeat the 

 same thing to the left. When bending the horse on the bit, do 

 not attempt to play with it, as by doing so there must be a 

 certain amount of jerk, but turn it gradually across the bars of 

 the mouth, with just sufficient pressure to make the horse yield ; 

 and then make much of him. A short time spent in bending 

 dismounted for a few days, will be found to be of the greatest 

 assistance in getting the horse to take kindly to his bit when 

 mounted. When mounting the horse for the first time after 

 he has been bitted, the rider should do so on the bridoon only, 

 -and then take a bit and bridoon rein in each hand, the little 

 finger between them, in -the same manner as when riding on a 

 snafHe and running reins, and ride altogether on the bridoon 

 rein, having the bit reins just so short that in the event of the 

 horse being inclined to throw his head about, there will not be 

 too much play with the bit and no danger of his throwing the 

 bit rein over his head. The horse should be kept at steady 

 straightforward work for a few days after being bitted, until he 

 becomes accustomed to obey the feeling of the bit, and as he 

 ; grows more reconciled to it, the bit reins should be gradually 

 shortened until the horse goes up to his bridle. When the 

 rider has an equal feeling of all four reins, the horse should 

 be put through the whole of the lessons he has been previously 

 taught on the snafHe every day. He must be frequently halted, 

 so as not to overtire him, and care should be taken not to 

 keep on at any one lesson too long at a time, so as to disgust 

 the horse with it, which would either end in his refusing, or else 

 trying to slide through it in a slovenly sort of way, which would 

 not have the desired effect. 



It often happens that young horsemen, with the best of all 



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