THE SNAFFLE. 9 



horses of every variety of temper and capability, for mili- 

 tary purposes, (for which docility and obedience are espe- 

 cially requisite,) has convinced me, that with kind and ju- 

 dicious management, the horse becomes one of man's best 

 friends, as well as one of his most docile and willing ser- 

 vants ; whilst, on the contrary, by ignorance and cruel 

 treatment, he is driven into vice and habits quite foreign to 

 his nature. 



Some excellent writers have disavowed their belief in 

 such a thing as a naturally vicious horse, and I am inclined 

 very much to the same opinion ; for, vice in horses is gen- 

 erally to be traced to the ignorance or cruelty, or both 

 combined, of those who have had the management of them ; 

 and if not confirmed by long habit, will disappear under 

 a kinder and better master. 



While instructing the reader how to train and manage a 

 young horse, it is the author's design to teach him at the 

 same time how to make a horseman of himself, if he will 

 attend to and practise the rules laid down for his guidance. 



As the horse's appointments, if ill -fitted, tend to make 

 him restless and uneasy, I will proceed to explain how they 

 ought to be adjusted, begging the reader, when going 

 through the training lessons, to refer to these instruc- 

 tions, as often as he may find the articles here specified 

 adverted to. 



The Snaffle, 



Being the first thing used in training a young horse, 

 great care must be taken to adjust it properly, as the effect 

 of this and every other bit, depends upon its being correctly 

 placed in the horse's mouth. The space between the fore 

 or nipping teeth and the jaw teeth or grinders, called the 

 bars, is the sensitive part of the horse's mouth, and where 

 the bit is most effective ; but, between the fore teeth and 

 a 3 



