HARNESS 107 



are two objections to the straight bit. In the first 

 place it is of little use in holding a horse if he starts 

 to run or shy, and in the second place it pulls through 

 the mouth, and in the hands of a rough or stupid driver 

 might cause the horse much discomfort. Probably the 

 bit that is best for the average horse is a snaffle bit ; that 

 is, a plain bit jointed in the middle. But it should be 

 made larger — not longer — than most bits are made. 



If the horse has a tender mouth, he will do best in 

 a leather-covered bit. There are many bits of this 

 kind on the market. Rubber-covered bits are bad be- 

 cause they tend to dry up the saliva in the mouth of 

 the horse, and if the mouth is dry it loses its sensi- 

 tiveness. 



Mr. Stark says : 



A horse that is a puller or lugger is made that way usually by 

 a bit that hurts him. The more it hurts him, the harder he 

 pulls. Few horses pull on an easy bit. If you cannot get a 

 big leather bit of your dealer, have your harness-maker cover a 

 common straight bit with several layers of rawhide. The bit 

 when covered should be as large as a small hoe handle. 



REINS 



For work-horses it is well to have that end of the 

 rein which fastens to the bit made of chain rather than 

 of leather for, say, two feet from the bit. The reason 

 IS that this end of the rein dips into a watering trough 

 when the horse Is watered, and the leather may soak 

 up some glander germs or other Impurities. It Is at 

 least more cleanly to have this part of the rein made 

 of chain. 



