142 BITS AND BITTING. 



with a bridoon (using all four reins), by means of which 

 the action of the bit is very much weakened. There 

 are, however, a great number of racers and hunters 

 whose tempers, or desire " to go," require the perma- 

 nent use of a cui'bed bit, and hitting off the proper form 

 and size of this is sometimes a matter of great nicety ; 

 for the bit that will prevent bolting, and enable the 

 jock to ride a waiting race, may interfere with the 

 horse's starting freely, or " laying himself out when 

 called upon." No doubt the jockey that has a very 

 close and steady seat, and places himself on the right 

 part of his horse's back, will be able to ride almost 

 every horse with a snaffle, because, being independ- 

 ent of the reins for his seat, his hand is light, — and 

 this is the secret of snaffle-riding. Still it is often 

 a matter of convenience or necessity to use a curbed 

 bit, and it is therefore important even for the race- 

 rider to know exactly on what principle its action 

 depends. 



Again, with the hunting man, the bit that enables 

 him to hold a runaway may interfere with the horse in 

 jumping. If he be not a mere rein and stirrup rider, 

 he can no doubt get on best with a snaffle ; but many 

 a man does not like the labour of holding a pulling 

 horse, and therefore prefers a bit. The difficulty a good 

 rider that prefers the bit will have to contend with is 

 to avoid the getting too powerful a bit, or the putting 

 a suitable one into a part of the horse's mouth where 

 it must act contrary to his intention. "Well, what we 

 profess to show is, that light bits accurately fitted are 

 more to be relied upon than the most atrocious instru- 

 ments of torture ever invented, and of which but too 

 many are in daily use. 



