HORSErrlAlSSIIIP. 21 



faults by the particular form of the mouth- 

 piece. 



Mouths which cannot support the action of 

 the bit, are called ivild mouths, or too tender. 



This excessive sensibility, which proceeds 

 either from too elevated and sharp nether- 

 jaws, or from wounds caused by a bad mouth- 

 piece, makes the horse shake the bridle at the 

 least movement, as if to disengage himself 

 from it, giving blows with the head, and beat- 

 ing in the hand. 



Naturally tender mouths, require a broken 

 bit with the end of the mouth-piece a little 

 strong, the branches straight and long, and 

 the curb a little slack. If this sensibility be 

 accidental, there is no necessity to indicate 

 the remedy. 



The strong mouth is that which draws the 

 hand, and resists the action of the bit, either 

 because the lower jaws being round, fleshy, 

 or too low, the bit rests more upon the tongue 

 than upon them, or because the too great 

 thickness of the lips and the gums covers the 

 lower jaws. The pigeon-throat bit is the 

 most suitable for these sorts of mouths, be- 

 cause the tongue is at liberty, and in order to 

 render it more sensible, it is necessary to 



