152 BITS AND BITTING. 



creased action is in a wrong direction — it ceases to be 

 a fore-and-aft-pull, and is converted into a pincer-like 

 twitch on the lower jaw, which becomes so painful that 

 the horse tries to get the mouthpiece on his teeth, 

 which is usually resented by sawing, restiveness being 

 the most common result. 



Some riders have recourse to a double-jointed snaffle, 

 others again to a double mouthpiece, the joints being 

 placed right and left of the centre; but these two forms 

 produce the pincher-like twitch, and are therefore to be 

 avoided if possible. 



There is one abomination that cannot be sufficiently 

 reprobated — namely, a snaffle twisted on one side and 

 plain on the other, the pretence for using it being, that 

 the horse is hard-mouthed on one side. Now it has 

 been already pointed out that this disinclination to 

 tui'n to one side is sometimes produced by a swollen 

 gland under the jaw, or by a naiTowness of the jaws 

 themselves ; and when anything of this kind is the 

 cause, it is evidently pure brutality to apply sheer force. 

 But many horses dislike turning — to the right, for in- 

 stance — where no local impediment of this kind exists ; 

 and here it will be found, that circling in trot on the 

 right hand, first of all very wide, and gradually nar- 

 rowing in, the rider's right hand directing the pull of 

 its rein towards the horse's left hind leg, whilst his left 

 hand keeps the horse's head and neck uiJ to the proper 

 position, is a much more certain and also humane mode 

 of attaining the end for which ignorant riders employ 

 the one-sided twisted snaffle. 



A snaffle twisted on both sides is a much less objec- 

 tionable instrument, and may be safely used by a well- 

 tempered and judicious rider who has a firm seat : it 



