CHAPTER XXI. 



PRINCIPLES, MEANS AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING 

 HORSES THROUGH THE MOUTH. 



The main principle of handling the horse through the medium of the 

 mouth is to have the punishment happen at a distance from you and if 

 he does not come to you for relief, you should go to him and relieve him 

 of any undue pressure that has been brought to bear on his mouth; as- 

 suring him that when near you he can get relief, which he will learn in 

 one or two minutes and be willing to follow you wherever you may go. 

 It is always better to make your impression on his mouth when he is at 

 an angle, instead of in front of him. This will induce him to turn on his 

 hind feet and advance towards you, when you should relieve him every 

 time, if he is in the least trouble. 



QUARTER INCH MANILA ROPE FOR THE SAFETY BRIDLE. 



To do this work most effectually, a small manila rope is the best, put 

 on in the form illustrated by the cuts for the safety bridle, Nos. ^;i and 

 34 here presented. First take the rope in your left hand about sixteen 

 or eighteen inches from one end and lay it over the horse's neck, hold- 

 ing on with the left hand; then reach under the neck with the right 

 hand and grasp the rope near the end. 



LEARN TO TIE THE VALUABLE BOW-BOW-LINE KNOT 



Form a loop with the fingers of the left hand so that the portion go- 

 ing over the neck shall be on top at the cross (not under), then pass the 

 end of the rope up through this loop (not down through), and draw 

 down so as to encircle the neck closely with the rope; now pass this 

 end all the way around the main rope and put it down (not up), through 

 this loop doubled, and grasp this doubled portion with the thumb and 

 finger of the left hand and pull on the main rope, which will tie a very 

 secure knot that will not slip and one that is very eisaly untied by pull- 

 ing on the end, the same as you would untie your shoe when tied in a 

 bow knot. This is a very convenient and secure knot for the purpose, 

 and may be called the bow-bow-line knot. See illustrations Nos. 33 and 

 34- 



STUDY THE BOW-BOW-LINE KNOT CAREFULLY. 



The next step is to put the left hand between the neck and rope from 

 the front and pull through a portion of the rope doubled, taking hold of 

 the portion attached to the neck with the right hand, bringing it on the 



