rir.] THE BIT, 81 



lip -strap. It should fasten round the leg of the bit, 

 so as to slide up and down, and should he tight 

 enough to be horizontal. 



The reason for the bar at the lower part of a Bar of the 



military 



driving bit or a military bit, is to prevent the horse ^ driving 

 catching his bit over his neighbour's reins. The French 

 cavalry ordonnance, in discussing the merits of this 

 bar, does not seem to be aware of its origin and 

 meaning. 



If the theories here laid down are true, it will result 

 that the common bits are best for the common run of 

 coarse hands, as being less severe, fr*m their action being 

 divided and on less sensible parts ; and also, that they 

 should be curbed more loosely, and placed higher in the 

 horse's mouth, in proportion to the degree of coarseness 

 to be expected in the rider's hand. So although a 

 martingale spoils hands, it may be used as a defence, Martingale, 

 that is, supposing the ' necessity of mounting a high, 

 harsh hand on a susceptible horse. In this case an 

 easy snaffle with a running martingale will at least 



