8 



CHKCKING AND 1UJND1<:KS. 



Ill tra illinium Colts, a simple method of 

 trainin;^ tlie mouth is that of bitting, or 

 puttini^ on what is termed a "bitting- 

 rig," and accustoming the colt to submit 

 the head up and back to the restraint 

 of the bit, an illustration of Avhich I give 

 in the chapter on "Colt Training." 

 When done properly, it is a valuable aid 

 in training the mouth ; but it is not 

 sufficient in itself, because by this means 

 the advantage of a dead pressure onl}- 

 can be obtained ; whereas it is necessary 



Fig. 314. — Horse with h loopd mane. 



Fig. .'ilJ.—Tail dockcrl and 

 nicked. 



to teach him to sub- 

 mit to flexible re- 

 straint, which is the 

 real object to be 

 attained, and this 

 can be done best 

 by direct training 

 with the bit. When 

 this is done, pulling 

 gently but firml}' 

 upon the mouth 

 Avith the bit will 

 bring the head up 

 and back, and keep 



it, without an)- ap- 

 parent restraint, 

 even higher than 

 can be accomplished 

 with a check, w^here- 

 as, if dependent up- 

 on checking only, 

 and especially if 

 checked rather high, 

 the muscles of the 

 neck becoming fa-- 

 tigued, to ease and 

 relieve this, the 



Fig. 31.5. — A oroppod horse, referred to in text. 



