278 Outdoor Vices and Whims 



OUTDOOR WHIMS, THEIR CAUSE AND HOW TO OVER- 

 COME THEM 



Tongue-lolling. — Some horses have the disagree- 

 able habit of protruding the tongue from the mouth, 

 usually either to the right or left, but sometimes in 

 front ; others place the tongue on top of the bit, and 

 still others fold the free part backward and under- 

 neath without protruding it from the mouth. Each 

 of these abnormal positions of the tongue lessens the 

 sensitiveness of the mouth and, in addition, the loll- 

 ing tongue is exposed to injury, which may become 

 very serious. The principal cause of such habits is 

 improper mouthing. The tongue-lolling bit was 

 devised to overcome these habits. This bit is 

 similar to a straight bar-bit with guards at either 

 side and with an oval, flat piece of steel attached to 

 the bar. This steel is about two and one half inches 

 wide and three to four inches long (Fig. 94, 5 and 6). 

 The bit is placed in the horse's mouth with the flat 

 piece resting on the tongue. As this extends up 

 into the mouth about two inches back of the bar, 

 it is impossible for the horse to get his tongue back 

 far enough to get it over the steel, and the guards at 

 the sides effectively prevent him from protruding it 

 at either side. 



To make a tongue-lolling bit, use an ordinary 

 straight bar-bit (Fig. 94, 1 and 2), and file three 

 inches of the middle flat. Sew an oval piece of sole 



