CHOICE OF A BIT. 



in 



ridden in a snaffle and which has not his head kept down by a 

 standing martingale, generally arises, as far as I can judge, 

 from the animal poking his head out or carrying it in the air, 

 and thus getting the pressure of the mouth-piece on the 

 corners of the mouth, in which case, the indication given 

 by the pull of the reins, will be to slacken speed, rather 

 than to bend the neck. As I have already indicated, a 

 thick, smooth, unjointed snaffle, with cheeks solidly connected 

 to the mouth - piece (Fig. 117), is the best of its kind for 

 all ordinary work. The late Major Dwyer wrote on this 

 subject : " We consider the unjointed bit to be a better and 



more perfect instrument From the riding-school point 



of view, jointed bits are altogether objectionable ; from the 

 military one they are scarcely admissible." 



Fig. 117. Half-moon snaffle with cheeks solidly connected to 

 the mouth-piece. 



