DRIVING BITS. 93 



half the pains and penalties for the Mexican professionals, 

 who excel all competitors in this class of athletic exercise. 

 "When the first national exhibition is held in the capital 

 of that fair and productive country, the first jiremium 

 for the most approved style of cruelty will be justly 

 awarded to one of the gallant and most accomplished 

 abusers of animals in that favored land. 



-•o»- 



CHAPTER X. 



DRIVING BITS. 



THE BRIDOOK BIT WITH RINGS. 



The cut below illustrates the ordinary bridoon or water- 

 ing bit used in common with cart, car, truck, wagon, 



Fig. 27.— BRIDOON BIT WITH KINGS. 



plow and cavalry regulation bit, and is quite mild and 

 harmless in its general application. It serves as a mere 

 check to hold and guide the horse with in ordinary work. 

 It can be w^orn with the reins thrown over the hames to 

 gather the truck horse's head, and set him up a little to 

 appear more stylish. The heavy Norman and Clydesdale 

 breeds, now becoming so numerous and popular in this 

 country, are so elegantly i:)roportioned that this simple 

 bit, with single headstall, and rein thrown over the 

 hames, serves the purpose as well as a regular check rein 

 with bit and curb used on the most stylish carriage horse. 

 These handsome animals are so elegantly set up that they 



