3 2 Horse and Man. 



The strongest man will therefore fail in re- 

 straining by main force the action of his horse. 

 It is true, no doubt, that the rider has certain 

 odds in his favour. He can pull at the rein 

 with all his strength ; whereas the horse, if he 

 pulls very hard at the bit, is likely to suffer 

 pain from its pressure. The inexperienced 

 horseman may therefore flatter himself that he 

 will be able to control his horse by main force, 

 not because the horse is physically unable to 

 overpower him, but because he will be afraid 

 of hurting himself in making the attempt. 

 This, however, will be found a very dangerous 

 mistake. 



There is no truth whatever in the common 

 superstition, that the mouths of some horses 

 are naturally light, and those of others natur- 

 ally hard. The mouths of all horses are 

 tender to the bit, so long as its interior part 

 presses upon the bars or gums, and its exterior 

 part upon the beard or chin. The mouths of 

 all horses are callous to the bit, when its inte- 

 rior part presses upon the corners of the mouth, 

 and its exterior part upon the bones of the 

 jaw. Every horse can therefore defy the pres- 

 sure of the bit, so long as he can keep it in 



