l32 HOW TO JUDGE A HOtlsfi. 



by studying the yery simple laws of nature, thereby 

 making themselves independent from their grooms, 

 and the stories they tell them about their horses. 



There is nothing more awkward and difficult to 

 manage, than a horse with a bit not perfectly adapted 

 to his mouth, ^nd to his whole frame or one that has 

 been ill placed. Many an otherwise excellent horse 

 has been put down as a worthless brute and sold, 

 and all on account of improper bitting. 



There are three dimensions of the interior of the 

 horses mouthy which must be accurately ascertained 

 before attempting to fit him with a proper bit. 



The first is the transversal width of the mouth, 

 from side to side, measured at a point directly oppo- 

 site the chin groove. 



The second dimension is the distance of the bars or 

 the width of the channel in which the tongue lies, 

 and which determines how much of the mouthpiece 

 may be allowed for the port. 



The third dimension is the height of the bars, or, 

 the distance between their upper surface and the 

 bottom of the chin groove. 



The mouthpiece ought to be just so wide as to fit 

 the horse's mouth snugly. If wider, it will 

 slip from side to side, and the edges of the port if 

 there are any — press upon the very sensitive bars, 

 causing the horse intolerable pain ; to avoid which, 



