158 JAW LOOP BRIDLE. 



wither. This is effectual in twisting the horse's head although 

 we have not found it more effectual than the loop bridle, and 

 it has some serious objections. Unless the rope is kept tight 

 the horse easily gets it out of his mouth. It is very rough on 

 the angles of the horse's lips, sawing them severely, and making 

 them first sore and afterwards callous. It is so painful that it 

 diverts the horse's attention from his lessons, and like a twitch, 

 prevents him from noticing anything else. The loop round the 

 jaw is only painful as long as the horse pulls on it, and is easy 

 directly he yields to it. Xo soreness is likely to be produced by 

 the loop bridle, and if a little friction does take place, it is not on 

 the same nerves that will be used by the iron bit, and has not 

 therefore the same tendency to harden the mouth. 



356. — This same loop bridle may be used for any purpose 

 where it is desired to have good control over a horse, but for 

 leading a horse on the usual or left side the rope attached to the 

 loop must be passed up the right side, and brought over the 

 head at the back of the ears, and down the left side, through the 

 loop round the jaw. Without being painful this will be found 

 preferable to any other bridle for leading or holding a horse 

 under fear or excitement. It is also the best bridle for leading 

 Q, horse by the side of another, or behind a carriage. 



357. — By an additional turn round the head and under the 

 top lip, it can be converted into an irresistible check upon the 

 movements of any horse. This is done by putting a second turn 

 of the same rope round the head, the upper part of which rests 

 like the other behind the ears, but the lower part presses on the 

 outside of the gums of the upper jaw nippers, that is outside 

 of the gums of the upper front teeth, and inside of the heavy 

 upper lip. In other words, the rope that comes to the hand 

 through the loop in the loop bridle, is bent back under the lip 

 and over the gums, then passing up the right side of the face, 

 behind the ears, it comes down the left side of the face where it 

 completes a second circle round the head, by taking a bend round 

 the rope at the point where it passes from the jaw loop to the lip 

 and gums. A pull on the rope thus bent round that junction, 

 will press both on the lower jaw, and on the sensitive and 



