ON HORSEMANSHIP. 261 



pleafure; with this latter he fiiould ufually be rode, 

 after having had his mouth made and fettled by the 

 fougb bit. 



If, however, he fhould pay no regard to this, but be 

 hard upon the hand, there mull be an addition of 

 Rijigs, to bring his mouth under ftri(5t command. 



The rough or Sharp bit is made to operate in a 

 greater or lefs degree, according to the JVorking of the 

 horfeman's hand, and as the reins are flackened, or 

 pulled tight. Whatever number of bits are necefTary, 

 it is better they fhould be eafy and flexible ; for, when 

 an horfe has a Solid and Stiff one in his mouth, the whole 

 of it bears upon his bars, juft as one cannot take up 

 any part of a fpit, without lifting the whole ; whereas 

 the other refcmbles a chain, the only part of which is 

 firm and hard, which is pulled and llretched ; the refl 

 is flexible and hangs loofe. 



The horfe feeling this hang in his mouth, endea- 

 vours to catch it with his teeth; and by twifting his 

 tongue and jaws about for that purpofe, lets the bit 

 drop lower down than it ought. To remedy this, fome 

 rings are fallened in the middle, v;ith which the horfe 

 playing * with his tongue and teeth, endeavouring to 



■^ We have a fmall chain in the upfet, or hollow part of our bits, 

 called a Placer, with which the horfe playing with his tongue, and roll- 

 ing it about, keeps his mouth moid and frefh. And as Xenophon hints, 

 it may ferve likewife to fix his attention, and prevent him from writh- 

 ing his mouth about, or, as the French call \t,f aire fes forces. 



catch 



