CHPXKING AND BLINDERS. 



d 



IS 



horse ma)- learn to rest the 

 head upon the bit, thereby 

 inducing liim, when pulled 

 upon, to learn the habit of 

 lugging or throwing the 

 head down upon the breast, — 

 a very objectionable habit, 

 and one which really defeats _. 

 the v^ery object of bitting. 



Another point : If the colt J 

 is checked up very high at 

 first, or so much as to irri- 

 tate and madden him, in his 



struggles to free himself from Fig. 316.— The position of the head as it 

 the pain and restraint he is frequently drawn np by a severe 



liable to throw himself over form of side che.k. 



backward and be killed, an occurrence known by any one of 

 experience to be very common. 



The want, also, of this training of the mouth (which is fully 

 explained in the chapter on "Colt Training") frequently leads 

 plucky, spirited horses to so lunge or pull recklessly against the 



bit as to make them un- 

 manageable and dangerous. 

 This it is sought to over- 

 come by different forms of 

 severe bits. When giving 

 instructions and making ex- 

 periments, I had almost 

 daily lunging, kicking, and 

 runaway horses of the 

 worst character brought 

 forward to be experimented 

 upon, — horses that, Avhen 

 used at all, could only be 

 driven by the most severe 

 form of bit ; and I was invariably able to drive such without 

 a check, giving the head entire freedom, and I may say, without 

 breeching as well, the most interesting feature of which was 

 the simplicity of treatment with which it could be done. 



In a certain class of lunging, headstrong horses, I call atten- 



I-"k;. yi7. — Freedom and comfort. 



