172 



BITS AXD BITTIKG. 



purpose, wliicli may be shown in a manner perfectly 

 independent of theory. If the bit, fig. 13, were pulled 

 in the direction of c, it would evidently have no other 

 effect than to pull it downwards, and out of the horse's 

 mouth, if the headpiece of the bridle did not prevent 

 this taking place ; and if 

 the pull were made in the 

 direction h, it would only 

 lift the bit up till the an- 

 gles of the mouth stopped 

 it. In neither case would 

 there be the slightest lever 

 action; and the nearer any 

 other direction, g or h, ap- 

 proached these perfectly in- 

 operative ones, h or c, the 

 less would be its value ; 

 and it is therefore evident 

 that the direction a, which 

 is equally remote from both, 

 must be the most efficient 

 — which is, however, pre- 

 cisely the right angle. 



Now a very long lower 

 cheek, or a very low carriage 



of the horse's head ci la Baucher, or a veiy high pack in 

 the front of the saddle,* will always have the effect of 

 bringing the rein to act on the bit at an unfavourable 

 angle ; and when we come to look at the bits that 

 served as models for old equestrian statues, we find 

 that the immense long lower cheeks of these were bent 

 backwards so as to form an angle with the upper cheeks 

 * See Plates VI. and YII., top figures. 



i^— > 



Fig. 13. — Angle formed by- 

 rein with bit. 



