130 The Practical Stud Groom. 



the assistant, on the near side, unbuckles the poll-piece and 

 the throat-lash, which, when thus divided, hang down over 

 the " chief's " hands. The " chief " is now holding the 

 yearling's head steady, and also keeping the bit in position 

 in the animal's mouth. Without releasing his hold of the 

 cheek pieces, the operator now gently prizes the yearling's 

 mouth open with the three free fingers of the right hand. 

 The bit gently drops out of the mouth, but is prevented from 

 falling to the ground, and scaring the colt, by the left hand, 

 which retains its grip of the cheek pieces of bridle and head- 

 collar on the off-side. Then, taking the chin piece of the 

 head-collar in the right hand, the " chief " hands his 

 assistant the bridle and bit with his left, which is then at 

 liberty to stroke the pupil's nose, the while he is being told 

 what a good horse he is, and so on. 



For the next few days it is well to stick closely to the 

 above plans when putting on or taking off the bridle. When 

 the yearling loses all signs of nervousness during these 

 operations, the next stage is to accustom him to having the 

 bridle put on and taken off by one man alone. When 

 putting the bridle on single-handed, the operator will not 

 disconnect the poll and cheek pieces, but let out the bridle 

 to the fullest length, consistent with guarding against the 

 possibility of its being so slack, when in its final position 

 behind the ears, as to permit the bit falling out of the 

 yearling's mouth. Grasping the two cheek pieces together 

 in his left hand about nine inches above the rings of the bit, 

 the operator grips the yearling's head-collar, on the near 

 side, in his right hand. He then places his left hand, carry- 

 ing the bridle, on the pupil's face in such a position as to 

 leave the bit hanging just below his lips. With the fingers 

 of the right hand he prizes open the animal's mouth, and 

 then with the left hand draws the bit up into its place in 



