24 TRAINING YOUNG 



One will soon find that the horse learns to 

 bring his weight back, and that his hocks will 

 come naturally underneath him going down 

 the hill. Thus he combines raising his fore- 

 hand and pulling up on his haunches, in pre- 

 ference to pulling up so that his weight and 

 the force of propulsion are born on the fore- 

 limbs. 



I trust that these two simple examples may 

 have proved both the necessity and the possi- 

 bility of obtaining balance in moderation. 



BITS 



The important point regarding the use of bits 

 is the necessity of not interfering with a young 

 horse's mouth when he is actually jumping. 

 There is nothing better than a good snaffle 

 for schooling a youngster in the early stages. 

 For this reason we find it the almost universal 

 bridle in Ireland. 



But though a snaffle is preferable for the early 

 education of a jumper, I would seldom if ever, 

 except for racing, continue to ride a horse in a 

 snaffle. Many people, chiefly through ignorance, 

 believe that a snaffle is essentially the best bit 

 for hunting, and no doubt it may be more 

 suitable for a rider with what Surtees described 



