THE DOUBLE- JOINTED SKAFFLE BIT. 101 



short bar, as in figure 39, while in figure 37 both ends of 

 each bar are on the upper or lower side, where they 

 join the guards and when in operation make less bulk 

 in the mouth, and consequently are less severe. Before 

 usina- either of these bits it should be well considered 

 whether or uot the horse needs it. 



Figure 38 represents the position of a double-barred 

 snaffle bit in the mouth, with the bar joints across the 



Fig. 39. — DOUBLY SEVERE. 



tongue. The pinching process of the draw on the bit as 

 it closes to the strain on the reins, is more severe than that 

 of the single-jointed snaffle, for the angles of the bars of 

 the double joint with the line of the back teeth being 

 less, the power to hold or swallow the bit is reduced. 



THE WIRE SXAFFLE BIT. 



Some of these fancy snaffles are made of twisted wire, 

 which, being thin, sharp and rough, are severe and cut 

 the mouth, rendering it callous and hard ; consequently 

 it causes the horse to keep a severe strain on the reins, 

 and whether it be single or double-jointed, and he should 

 swallow it, a few chucks and a saw will make an ordinary 

 puller let go. It is a fancy bit worthy of only a junk- 

 shop. But the objection we have to all extra iron in the 

 mouth, is that double bits of any kind interfere with the 

 horse's wind while at work, either in harness or under 



