70 THE BRIDLE BITS. 



numerous accidents. Those who doubt the judgment of 

 the horse must yield to the fact that the most ordinary 

 horse or animal of any kind puts muscular j3ower to his 

 bound in j^roportion to the width or height to be leaped. 

 As we bid farewell to the cavalry regulation watering 

 bit, on campaigns, we do not do so without recommending 

 a substitute uot unknown to the service, and one that is 

 calculated to answer all the requirements of both bits and 

 the advantage claimed in resuming its use. We must con- 

 sider that we cannot have everything our own way while 

 the horse we ride has to do the work. His ideas must be 

 consulted as to how, not what, is to be done. Give him 

 to understand by proper means what jou want him to do, 

 and leave the performance to him. If the rider don't 

 know how to give his horse to understand how high or 

 how far he is to jump, he had better learn. 



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CHAPTER VI. 

 CAVALRY OR MILITARY BIT. 



The old cavalry or military bit, with rings in a line 

 with the bar for bridoon reins, is preferable, as regards 

 the rings and their purposes, to the regulation cavalry- 

 bit now used in the United States Army. For the curb 

 and bridoon reins work the same bit, but with different 

 powers, meanings, effects, times and results. In the use 

 of the rings for the bridoon reins, we dispense with the 

 watering bit on campaigns and adopt a steering apparatus 

 far better adapted for practical purposes in the field than 

 ihe bridle now in use. Our reasons for recommendins: it 

 are drawn from our life-long practical knowledge of horses 

 and horsemanship of different kinrls, both civil and mili- 

 tary, thus taking in a wide range of experience, alike in 

 America and Europe ; and we have no hesitation in say- 



