102 FEEL OF THE MOUTH 



ideas of style. The effect of its use on the pony is pre- 

 cisely the reverse of that which is made by a bit on a 

 horse suppled by school methods or even bitted, and 

 which has been ridden on a light touch. The latter 

 brings down his head to the hand, with an arched neck, 

 easy mouth, and a give-and-take feel of the hand. The 

 pony, at the least intimation of the bit, long before the 

 rein is taut, jerks up his head, and must have a tough 

 mouth, or an exceptional fright, to make him take hold 

 of you. 



This habit of using a severe bit and of never allowing 

 the horse to take hold of it is partaken by the majority 

 of the riders of the world. All Orientals, without excep- 

 tion, bit a horse in this fashion. I have at intervals seen 

 a man in the Orient with an easy bit, playing it with a 

 light touch by touch I mean an actual feel of the 

 horse's mouth and with a neat and easy hand ; but it is 

 very rare. A loose rein gives no useful touch. You can 

 start your horse with the spur or whip, or with a word ; 

 you can stop him with the merest touch of the rein ; you 

 can guide him by the rein on his neck. But I deem it 

 impossible to communicate with a horse as intimately 

 with this loose rein as you can with the touch of a bit 

 and bridoon, well adjusted, and which you always hold so 

 as to have the least possible delicate feel of the horse's 

 mouth. Such a touch not only yields a sense of compan- 

 ionship between man and beast, but the horse unquestion- 

 ably likes the pleasant conversation which thus goes on. 

 A man may talk with his horse in words, and of these an 

 intelligent horse is very fond ; but they will at least be 

 rare. If he is in the habit of talking to him through the 

 rein and bit, his hands will be always talking and it is 

 this that pleases and controls the true saddle - beast. I 

 will discuss this point again when I eome to speak of 



