GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 121 



running away to avoid some white apron or handker- 

 chief or the like that appears in their rear. Teams of 

 artillery horses without blinds become in consequence 

 unapproachable in column by officers who have to 

 gallop up and down with orders ; many a leg has been 

 broken in this way, and many artilleries have intro- 

 duced blinds in consequence, and with immediate effect. 

 Horses without blinds are always for starting off before 

 the driver has a hold of the reins, and soon learn to kick 

 at the least motion of the whip. 



But enough has now been said to prove the great 

 importance of well understanding the principles on 

 which bits and bridles should be applied and con- 

 structed, both as a means of insuring to the rider and 

 driver perfect command over their horses, and also of 

 saving these most useful and docile animals from ill 

 treatment and unnecessary pain. 



From the tenor of the preceding remarks, and indeed 

 of the whole of Part II., it must be evident that the 

 author's conviction whether right or wrong matters 

 little is, that every individual horse requires a bit 

 specially adapted to the dimensions of its mouth and its 

 general construction, and that, although freely admitting 

 that one bit may be found to suit several individuals, 

 there can be no such thing as a universally applicable bit 

 or bridle, any more than that certain quack medicines 

 can be, as asserted, equally suited to all men and 

 women indifferently, and to cure all diseases, whatever 

 their nature. Had such been his idea, it would have 

 been very silly of him to take the pains and trouble of 

 writing and publishing this Part II., and he would 

 probably have contented himself with advertising some 

 patent contrivance bearing his own name, according 



