BITTING. 79 



who brought her to me was evidently extremely nervous. 

 He told me, the very first thing, that the mare had never 

 in her life done any saddle work, except with " a desperately 

 wild young gentleman," who had bitted her severely, and 

 yet found her most difficult to manage. Therein lay the 

 secret, I thought to myself; but I said nothing, and the 

 maligned quadruped and I started on our trial, the groom 

 most earnestly imploring me to keep a firm hold of the 

 curb. I found that she hung desperately upon her bridle, 

 kept her head between her knees with a strong, determined, 

 heavy pull — a dead one, in fact — upon the bit, and went 

 along with a rough, jerky action, which had me very soon 

 tired out. The Editor of the Sporting and Di'amatic News 

 had volunteered to accompany me, in order to see the trial, 

 and when we got into the Row and set our horses going, 

 the brute nearly dragged my arms out in her canter. The 

 tug she had upon the bridle was quite terrific, and, evidently 

 prepared for a fight, she laid back her ears and shook her 

 wicked head angrily. I rode her from Palace Gate to the 

 Corner in this manner — not pulling one ounce against her, 

 and yielding very slightly to her in her stride. By the 

 time we turned she had given up fighting, and I was enabled 

 for the first time to speak to my companion. I then 

 dropped the curb, and rode her entirely upon the snaffle. 

 The effect was magical ; she at once lifted her head, ceased 

 pulling altogether, and went along in a pleasant, joyous 

 canter — going well up to her bridle, but not attempting 

 any liberties whatever. In less than an hour's time I was 

 riding her with one hand, petting and making much of her 



