PRINCIPLES OF BITTING. 187 



at the same time ; while there is a marked interval 

 between the moments at which the fore feet are respec- 

 tively raised. 



The two essentials, then, for good bitting, are (i) that 

 the horse should be under control ; and (2) that he 

 should " go up to his bridle " — in other words, that he 

 should allow the bit to press on his mouth without 

 flinching from it, though he should obey the pressure 

 according as the rider varies it. If, on the contrary, the 

 horse be afraid to " face the bit," the rider will be unable 

 to " catch hold of his head," and to accommodate him- 

 self to the movements of his mount ; while the animal 

 will be afraid to extend its head and neck, and will 

 consequently check the backward sweep of its hind 

 quarters. From the bent position of the neck, the fore 

 legs, however, will have the utmost freedom. The conse- 

 quence of this constrained carriage of the body will be, 

 that the horse will keep his hind legs too much under 

 him, and will raise his fore legs too high ; in fact, he will 

 be '' over collected." Fashionable harness horses, which 

 are driven with severe bits that they are afraid to " go up 

 to," and whose heads are drawn back by gag bearing 

 reins, furnish us with an excellent instance of this 

 "over collection." Being well on their haunches, they 



