268 RIDING BITS— THE SAW-MOUTH, ETC. 



This form of snafHe is intended to counteract any tendency 

 to " bore " and may be used with a single bridle, or as a 

 bridoon in conjunction with another bit. The mouth-piece 

 is similar to that of the plain snaffle. All four of the eyes 

 through which the round leather reins pass lie parallel to 

 the mouth-piece. The use of the gag snaffle should be 

 avoided by a novice, 



THE SAW-MOLTH. 



The Saw-mouth bridoon is happily a rare form of bit, 

 the action of which is exceedingly painful, not to say brutal. 

 It is made in two sections joined together in the middle by a 

 tongue and socket joint and the outer ends are shaped into 

 snap hooks with springs. The concave surface is formed 

 into teeth. This bit is attached by means of snap hooks, 

 usually to the rings of some form of snaffle. When the reins 

 are drawn tight, its effect is not very severe, but when the 

 bit is drawn transversely through the horse's mouth it pro- 

 duces very much the same result on the horse's lips that an 

 ordinary saw does on a piece of wood. 



THE NEWMARKET. 



The Newmarket snaffle can hardly be considered a dis- 

 tinct form of bit, as its metal part does not differ in any respect 

 from the simple snaffle ; yet owing to its efficiency, especially 

 with tender mouthed horses, it is of sufficient importance to 

 be classed as a distinct style. Its merit lies in an adjustable 

 leather nose-band which passes from one ring of the mouth- 

 piece to the other over the bridge of the nose. This strap, 

 by means of a buckle, is arranged so that the pressure of the 

 reins can be distributed between the nose and the bars of 

 the mouth or thrown entirely on either one or the other. 



