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 

 })e 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 difiicult to manage than a 

 horse with a bit that is not perfectly kdapted 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 conjunction 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 unmistakable and peremptory manner. 



Although bitting finds its place here after saddlino-, 

 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 



