74 MY HORSE ; MY LOVE 



Did you ever see a horse injured by thrusting a cold 

 metal bit in his mouth? 



' That is of too frequent occurrence for me not to have 

 seen it, and far oftener than I like to think of.' 



One cold frosty morning I heard one boy say to another, 

 ' I dare you to put your tongue on this iron lamp-post.' In 

 a twinkling the boy did it, and the skin of his tongue was 

 left on the frozen iron. I was indignant at such an outrage, 

 but had no time to interfere. Would a cold bit have a 

 similar effect? 



' Certainly, madam. The horse's tongue is equally sen- 

 sitive, and a frozen bit, whether of steel or iron, has done 

 infinite mischief to the poor animal, which mischief could 

 never be accounted for. Many a runaway can be traced 

 to this unthinking carelessness or ignorance.' 



It should not be difficult to remedy. 



' A cold bit can be quickly warmed by thrusting it be- 

 tween the arm and body for a few moments, or rubbing 

 it between the hands, or on something woollen. But to 

 avoid the trouble permanently, through ignorant grooms, 

 the bit in winter should be covered with leather or rubber 

 to prevent such prolonged and intolerable suffering. 



' The tongue so injured takes a long time to heal, and is 

 as severe and painful as a bad burn, and no horse should take 

 the bit after such a misfortune until entirely recovered.' 



