72 THE POCKET AND THE STUD. 



must allow; but as they are also used as " setting" 

 muzzles, it is quite necessary to prevent the horse 

 getting at any of his litter, which he might do if 

 they were made more open ; and for racing stables 

 they are certainly the best, or for any occasion 

 where a horse has to be set over-night : a pre- 

 caution quite necessary with some horses, as 

 hunters, for, if greedily inclined, they will get at 

 their litter if at all stinted in their hay, which is 

 worse than the hay itself. One precaution should 

 be always used with muzzles ; namely, to have a 

 throat-latch to them ; for, if left on all night, the 

 horse is all but certain to try to get them off. 

 If he succeeds (where he is tied up) they get 

 under or about his feet. This, probably, frightens 

 and sets him plunging. 



I once saw a muzzle made without any strap 

 going over the head. It had four billets, one of 

 which buckled to each ring of the nose-band of 

 the head-collar, and one that fastened in front. 

 It struck me as a safe and good mode of putting 

 it on when used merely as a setting-muzzle ; and 

 had this advantage, it did not require the bottom 

 of the muzzle being kept so close to the horse's 

 mouth to keep it steady; thus allowing free 

 respiration. 



One thing I most strenuously recommend all 

 masters to insist on ; namely, that a horse in the 

 slightest degree inclined to bite should never be 



