MOUTHS AND MANNERS 



use, ought, in heavy harness, to drive comfortably 

 in either the check or preferably the half-check ; 

 and ninety per cent of them will do so if proper 

 appliances are used. The use of the middle-bar 

 has many drawbacks, and tends to make a horse 

 dead in his mouth very quickly, unless carefully 

 applied, for, some day the plain loose chain gets 

 twisted, the bit drops lower to a new place, the 

 mouth is bruised, and, as hanging back procures 

 punishment, the horse, again choosing the lesser 

 evil, pulls to let the chain and bit numb his 

 mouth and another puller is in process of 

 manufacture. Be sure the bit is neither too nar- 

 row nor (as generally) too wide ; if the latter, put 

 on leather cheek-pieces to make it fit, or get an- 

 other bit. 



If the smooth side of an elbow bit is too easy, 

 try the rough; if the subject opens his mouth, 

 put on an " all-round " nose-band; try the bit 

 high and low, loose chain and tight, plain chain 

 and twisted, until you find the " comfortable spot," 

 and frequently shift it from there if he is inclined 

 to take hold ; if a " tongue loller," or one which 

 gets his tongue over the bit, try dropping it very 

 low instead of, as usual, taking it up very high, or 

 put on a long sole-leather port which will keep 



in 



