RIDING AND DRIVING 77 



in practice it dries up all the saliva. When the 

 mouth is harsh and dry, without any saliva or white 

 froth, it is impossible for the rider to be on good 

 terms with his mount. So important do I consider 

 this that if I get on to an animal which some one 

 with bad '* hands " has just been riding, I generally 

 give him a handful of grass to munch, and thus 

 restore the saliva. 



There are many good horsemen who swear by a 

 gag, and will never ride a horse that attempts to 

 pull in anything else. I refer here to the bridle that 

 is a combination of gag and curb, the former taking 

 the place of the snafHe. I cannot recommend the 

 gag except for special occasions, and then it is 

 useful for a horse that has acquired the habit of 

 boring his head down to his knees ; but as a bit for 

 hunting or regular riding, I consider it is opposed to 

 the first principles of horsemanship and humanity. 



In the ordinary double-rein bridle, to which I 

 will presently return, the curb should be looked 

 upon as an instrument of punishment or warning 

 not to pull, and the snaffle should be the medium 

 of conveying your wishes when the horse is on his 

 good behaviour. 



The gag presses on the corners of the mouth 

 where you do not want it, and you must either pull 

 the horse's head up in the air or ride on the curb. 

 Both are severe bits, and therefore, when they are 

 used together, you have no means of rewarding a 

 horse for going kindly. 



The gag -snaffle, or a gag and a snaffle, are 



