ACTION OF THE MOUTH-PIECE. 47 



the rein. , First, the *' bars " — that portion of the 

 gums of the lower jaw which are devoid of teeth 

 and which are in front of the molars — are 

 singularly suitable for the application of pressure; 

 being sensitive and smooth. Secondly, when the 

 horse carries his head and neck in the best 

 manner for facilitating his movements, the mouth- 

 piece will be in the position easiest for the rider 

 or driver to control the animal by the reins. The 

 breaker's task, therefore, as regards the carriage 

 of the horse's head and neck, will simply be to 

 teach him to carry them in a perfectly natural way. 



How the mouth-piece should act. — If an impetuous, 

 hard-pulling horse gets his head up and tries to 

 *' break away" with a good rider, the man will 

 ease the reins, '' drop his hands," and wait till 

 the animal lowers its head, before he takes a pull : 

 a rule that is followed by all our best horsemen. 

 When the animal finds its head released, he will 

 quickly bring it ''down." The reasons for not 



