INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 13 



of the uninitiated, frequently nearly disappear in the 

 further course of it. 



There is another great difference between the condi- 

 tions under which the soldier and the civilian mount 

 their horses, the former being compelled to ride with 

 one hand, and have the other free to use his weapons ; 

 besides, his life frequently depends on a rapid change of 

 direction at various degrees of speed, and which he must 

 be able to effect without great effort. The way in which 

 the pack is placed on the saddle has much to do with 

 this, as will appear when we come to the subject of 

 " Bits and Bitting." All these matters shall be treated 

 in a separate chapter, and illustrated by figures. 



The second part of the work is devoted to " Bits and 

 Bitting." There is much more in this than most people 

 may be willing to believe. A ship with a damaged or 

 badly -constructed and ill-fitting rudder is not more 

 awkward and difficult to manage than a horse with a 

 bit that is not perfectly adapted to his mouth and his 

 whole frame, or which has been ill placed. It will be 

 necessary here to refer again to the horse's skeleton, 

 and point out the beautiful series of levers, and the 

 wonderful lever action, by means of which, in conjunc- 

 tion with the seat and legs of the rider, his will may 

 be conveyed from his little finger through the reins, 

 bit, head, and neck of the horse, down to the very last 

 joint of its hind legs, in the, to the animal, most un- 

 mistakable and peremptory manner. 



Although bitting finds its place here after saddling, 

 this is not because of its being a secondary considera- 

 tion, but rather because no man can have a light hand, 

 or, in fact, use any bit properly, unless he have so 

 steady and close a seat as to put all suspicion of what 



