TAKING MEASUEE FOR THE BIT, ETC. 207 



with a loose bearing-rein, where that has been the 

 cause, and the horse will be immediately lighter in the 

 hand. Sometimes, however, this fails, and the only 

 remedy that remains is to attach a " fringe " to the 

 mouthpiece, which, hanging down on the tongue, pro- 

 duces a tickling sensation that makes the animal draw 

 back its tongue. However, we should be deceiving our 

 readers in leading them to suppose that all cases are 

 curable ; for some horses will persist in this ugly trick 

 despite of everything one can do. Any attempt to tie 

 the tongue in this or the former cases will be found 

 useless and probably dangerous. 



Nothing is more certain than that every horse will 

 go much better with a well-fitting bit properly placed 

 than with the contrary ; further, that many otherwise 

 dangerous horses become perfectly tractable if properly 

 bitted ; and, finally, that inattention to this subject 

 is one of the most frequent causes of restiveness. It, 

 however, by no means follows that every rider should 

 necessarily use a curb-bit. For hunting and racing 

 purposes the snaffle will be generally preferable. More- 

 over, bad or indifferent riders had better not use the 

 bit at all ; but when, from whatever cause, it appears 

 desirable to use one, let it be by all means a well- fitting- 

 bit, carefully adapted to the animal. 



