BITTING. 67 



I append sketches, of a common jointed snaffle, the 

 easiest and nicest bit that a thoroughly-trained horse can 

 possibly go in, and also a double-ringed one, such as I have 

 just described. The latter is frequently used by men when 

 breaking young horses in Irish hunting-fields, and is very 

 useful when servants have to be entrusted with the 

 handling of animals, for, severe though it may be made, 

 it cannot spoil a horse's mouth so easily as can any 

 description of curb. 



There is not among the whole range of bits any so mild 

 or suitable to a learner as the common snaffle. Captain 



RINGED SNAFFLE. 



Horace Hayes, writing to me on the subject, says : " The 

 more imperfect the rider, the greater the necessity for using 

 a snaffle bridle ; but this," he adds, " goes without saying. 

 Persons are at times found to express such mad ideas about 

 horses and bitting that to reply to them is only to encourage 

 their folly." 



A big smooth bridoon (with or without horns), and a 

 solid Portmouth bit and curb, will be found a capital 

 hunting bridle. It has always been a favourite with me for 

 horses that do not want to get their tongues over the bit, 

 and where this objectionable habit does not exist, the 

 common-jointed snaffle or Pelham will be found very nice 



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