HORSEMAI^SHIP AND TRAINING. 19 



are an inch thick at the guards and taper slightly to the 

 joint, from which a flat oval plate of steel about an inch 

 and a quarter or so long is suspended by two small rings, 

 and from three holes in the lower edge of the plate three 

 iron tags hang. 



The operations of this bit are as follows : The thick 

 bars, at the guards, is where they press the corners of 

 the mouth, and being large they are not so apt to cut 

 and chafe the mouth as small bars are, for by constant 

 chafing and breaking of the skin at the tender and bare 

 part of the mouth it becomes callous, and the horse is 

 apt to ignore the gentle pull of the reins ; and by the 

 driver's getting in the habit of pulling at the bit, he 

 himself becomes a puller by degrees, thinking that that 

 is what his driver wants him to do, for horses are often 

 puzzled to know what we mean, and to know how to use 

 the bit so as to reach their understanding is the result of 

 theory and practice. The tags upon the oval plate hang 

 upon and tickle the horse's tongue, and thus keep him 

 playing with the bit, his mouth in motion and himself on. 

 the move. The guards are double and long to prevent the 

 possibility of drawing the bit through the mouth, and 

 thus giving the horse an advantage in a struggle with 

 his trainer. 



The rings are large to admit of strong headstall and 

 reins, which are buckled on, and are so adjusted as to 

 be just long enough to reach and fasten on to the surcin- 

 gle when the horse's head is in its most natural and easy 

 position. The reins should be fastened to the surcingle, 

 so as to pull straight and square for this purpose ; if the 

 reins are not so made, a knot should be tied on the loop 

 of the reins and the loop, being exactly in the centre, 

 fastened to the terret on the pad of the surcingle, so as to 

 keep the horse's head straight to prevent accidents and 

 ensure an evenly made mouth and carriage. A crupper is 

 used to keep the surcingle in its place, and especially so 



