78 . THE BRIDLE BITS. 



sixpence and pull up and turn round at speed. This they 

 do by tying the horse's nose down with a standing mar- 

 tingale, attached to a spiked snaffle. They then fasten 

 a rope to the rings of the snaffle and longe the animal on 

 a very small circle, with a man on his back who strenu- 

 ously applies the whip and spurs. After a few days at 

 this, they practice the horse at starting off at speed and 

 pulling up on the spot, when their charger is ready for 

 the field." This training is entirely mechanical. The 

 horse feels no friendshijD towards his rider — only fear. 

 But this is not training. The horse's disposition to sub- 

 mit to moral influence is not cultivated, nor does he do 

 anything of his own free will — it is all brute force ; but 

 even with this it could not be made so effective on large, 

 heavy horses as on small ones. 



If we observe the peculiarity of the horsemen of each 

 nation, we will find that the character of the riding, 

 feats and exercises are regulated by the breed, size and 

 style of the horses of the resj)ective countries. Thus, in 

 Mexico the bull-fighter's horse is not only a small, thin, 

 active mustang, but he is blindfolded (and not unfre- 

 quently purposely blinded) before being taken into the 

 arena to face an infuriated bull, maddened by fire-crackers 

 fastened to darts stuck in his skin, and the sights, sounds 

 and smells of thousands around him, and rendered fierce 

 and fearless by the challenges of the red flags and the 

 blood of others beneath his feet. Large horses would 

 have no chance or advantage in such a contest, and when 

 we consider the practice of horsemen in the Eastern 

 countries, we find that their expertness Avith spears, sharp 

 swords, small, active horses and powerful bits, are due 

 to the peculiarity of the different breeds, for it is at the 

 very threshold of circumstances that every nation has its 

 peculiarities, as well in its practices as in its productions 

 and amusements. 



In using the ring bit with our large saddle-horses. 



