BITS 31 



has by that time grown to be like Topsy, of ' Uncle 

 Tom's Cabin ' fame, who had to be beaten with fire- 

 irons because ' she was used to sticks and could not 

 feel them.' 



No. 6, the simple ring snaffle, is my favourite, and 

 when the horse ' gets hold ' a little you should use 

 your voice instead of making vicious tugs on his 

 mouth. A clearly-spoken ' Steady, steady now ; 

 quiet, my lad !' will generally be all that is necessary. 

 You will get far more work, love, and faithful 

 attachment out of any horse, young or old, by 

 gentle and humane treatment than you can by all 

 the bullying and brutality ever exercised on the long- 

 suffering animals we use. 



I notice all hard-working and heavy dray horses 

 are provided with this bit, and if they, in their huge 

 size and corresponding strength, can be handled with 

 such a simple mouth bit, why not others ? 



For saddle work, No. 2, the bridoon, or double bit, 

 is quite severe enough to hold any horse. It is not the 

 severest in use, but at the same time great mischief can 

 be done with it. Here we have a picture (Fig. 14) 

 of a lady's cob. With this double-bitted bridle on, 

 you will see how a two-fold action is brought into 

 force in a horse's mouth. Observe the pull the rider 

 can get on the mouth with the bridoon, or jointed 

 part, at the same time putting the full force of the 

 curb into action. Now, hereby hangs a tale. The 

 lady who owns this beautiful little roan cob came to 

 me one day in great distress. During a long illness 

 the coachman had been riding the cob with this 

 bridle on. He so tortured the poor little beast with 

 his hard and unyielding hands, hard riding, and 

 punishment, that it was no longer safe for his mistress, 

 on her recovery, to ride. ' What shall I do ? I love 

 my little cob so, and have always been able to do 

 anything with him.' My first and natural question 



