BITS AND BITTING. 145 



desirous to relieve the sensitive bars of the pressure, turns 

 his head to that side, and the more the rider or reinsman 

 pulls in the contrary direction, the more the horse persists 

 in his vice. Sometimes, but very rarely, horses are met with, 

 which, from malformation of the mouth, have one bar higher 

 than the other, a defect producing considerable irritation, 

 but in the great majority of cases, the habit is created by bad 

 hands holding on to a bad bit, by careless and inattentive 

 riders and drivers. Only a skilful and experienced hand 

 can successfully combat this habit, hence it is that we see so 

 many good-looking horses condemned to the slavery of the 

 cab-rank. The most efficacious means of cure is a radical 

 change of bit, and it alone can lessen the acquired defect. 

 A snaffle bit, a piece of chain being substituted for that 

 half of the mouth-piece which rests on the callous bar, has 

 been recommended, as has been a bit of flannel wound 

 round that side of the bit to which the horse is inattentive. 

 Probably a snaffle smooth on the sensitive half of the 

 mouth, and with a twist on the other would have the same 

 effect. With change of bit must come change of hands, 

 and they must be those of a master of his art. 



If a bit does not suit a horse he will, by restlessness, throw* 

 ing his head about, yawning, going "one-sided," carrying his 

 head either too low or too high, by slabbering, and by 

 various dumb motions, speedily apprise his rider of the fact. 

 i\Ir. Benjamin Latchford — whose name is a household word 

 among horsemen as bridle, bit, stirrup and spur maker, one 

 of " the good men of the mystery of loriners," a craft or 

 guild having its ordinances dating back to the times of 

 Henry IL, son of King John — gave it as his opinion that 

 " the horse has naturally no vice, and that every description 

 of vice found in him is created by the treatment he receives 

 from those in whose care he is placed." To illustrate this 



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