HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP. 75 



will discontinue them. For callous bars Xenophon pre- 

 scribes gentle friction with oil ! and the practice of the 

 Augustan age of the manege, recommended by Berenger, 

 was to amputate that part of the tongue which a horse 

 protruded or lolled out ! One of the most common defences 

 against the bit, is the taking the leg, the lower part of the 

 branch, in the mouth. This is commonly counteracted by 

 a lip- strap, but it may be prevented by having the leg bent 

 like that of a military bit. This avoids the use of the lip- 

 strap, which, to be effectual, must be so tight as, in some 

 degree, to gag the horse. The objection to the bent leg is, 

 that its appearance is unsporting. This, however, does not 

 apply as an objection to a lady's bit. The action of one 

 branch independently of the other, resulting from the mouth- 

 piece being jointed, or the porte movable, increases the faci- 

 lity of taking the leg in the mouth. For when the right 

 branch is in action, the leg is drawn back, and the bearing 

 of the lip-strap slackened, and the check in going forward 



