84 THE BIT. [CHAP. 



Danger gentle, no danger to the rider nor resistance from the 



does not re- 



norse W ^ result from power, but on the contrary, 

 safety to the rider and obedience from the horse. This 

 is the only mode of accounting for the fact that 

 there are thousands of hands which perform to ad- 

 miration In driving, with the most severe bits, but 

 which are quite unfit to be trusted in riding with 

 anything but a snaffle bridle ; for, in driving, the terret- 

 pad prevents false indications on the bit, therefore to 

 ensure true ones being given, two hands are used, or 

 when one only, two fingers are placed between the 

 reins instead of the fourth finger only, consequently 

 the horse obeys the slightest touch, and consequently 

 his mouth and the driver's hand become mutually more 

 light; but put the driver and driven together, as 

 rider and ridden, with the same bit, the reins in one 

 hand, and the fourth finger only between them, and 

 what will follow? The rider gives a wrong indication; 

 the horse turns the wrong way, or stops ; the rider insists, 

 and applies force ; the horse rears ; one or both fall back- 



