BITS AND BRIDLES. 141 



only one of many Instances of ponies pulling from pain. 

 The Hanoverian Pelham with a low port (Fig. 59), 

 is a useful bit for a pony that gets his head too low. 



One of the worst tricks a polo pony can have is 

 that of getting his tongue over the bit, which then 

 acts solely on the sensitive bars of the mouth. I 

 have never known a pony addicted to this abominable 

 trick with a decent mouth. Besides, it is one of the 



Fig. 60. — Gag snaffle. 



most difficult of all vices to cure. Of the many 

 contrivances I have tried, including ladder bits and 

 tongue layers, the most successful have been an 

 ordinary gag (Fig. 60), and tying the tongue. The 

 gag has the disadvantage of being too severe for 

 some really hot-headed ponies. Tying the tongue is 

 done by means of a piece of tape passed over the 

 tongue and under the chin. It should be made just 

 tight enough not to slip off the tongue. The knot 



