114 THE BRIDLE BITS. 



doubt we will be denounced by some horse-liead-gear 

 inventors or fanciers, but we expect this ; and, caring 

 more for the horse than we do for his persecutors, we 

 shall continue to defend him and take his part by declar- 

 ing war against so much unnecessary interference with 

 his mouth, till it is made of cast-iron — then we will give 

 up the contest. 



When men, dogs, deer, fowls, all animated creation 

 and horses, fly or go out of a walk, they stretch their 

 heads and necks out in proportion to their speed, and as 

 much in a line with each other as possible, to ensure as 

 straight and as direct a passage for air to their lungs as 

 their speed requires — while the horse, from whom so 

 much speed is exacted, is tied and bound up neck and 

 crop to such a degree that to put him on his speed would 

 be impossible without running him off his wind before he 

 went a mile. 



The illustrations (fig. 47) from 1 to 6, show the natural 

 positions of the necks, heads and tails under speed. The 



: 3 « 5 



Fig. 47.— POSITIONS IN RUNNING. 



animals with their heads and tails stretched out at full 

 length have use for both thus held while on the run. 

 The tails act as rudders to guide or steer and steady 

 them, and the faster they go, as in sailing, the less action 

 of the tail or rudder is necessary, and in case of a short 

 turn it is, by some, switched to tlie right or left with a 

 circular sweep to facilitate the sudden reverse of action 

 of the body to balance under tlie strain. It will be said 

 that so small a tail as some animals have could not affect 

 any motion of so large an animal, but watch the triflmg 

 motion of the tail or tin of the fish that governs the fish's 



