THE CAVESSON, SNAFFLE, ETC. 151 



action is in a wrong direction it ceases to be a fore- 

 and-aft-pull, and is converted into a pincer-like twitch 

 on the lower jaw, which becomes so painful that the 

 horse tries to get the mouth-piece on his teeth, which 

 is usually resented by sawing, restiveness being the 

 most common result. 



Some riders having recourse to a double-jointed 

 snaffle, others again to a double mouth-piece, the joints 

 being placed right and left of the centre ; but these 

 two forms produce the pincer-like twitch, and are 

 therefore to be avoided if possible. 



There is one abomination that cannot be sufficiently 

 reprobated namely, a snaffle twisted on one side and 

 plain on the other, the pretence for using it being, that 

 the horse is hard-mouthed on one side. Now it has 

 been already pointed out that this disinclination to 

 turn to one side is sometimes produced by a swollen 

 gland under the jaw, or by a narrowness of the jaws 

 themselves ; and when anything of this kind is the 

 cause, it is evidently pure brutality to apply sheer force. 

 But many horses dislike turning to the right, for 

 instance where no local impediment of this kind exists ; 

 and here it will be found, that circling in trot o'n the 

 right-hand, first of all very wide, and gradually narrowing 

 in, the rider's right hand directing the pull of its rein 

 towards the horse's left hind leg, whilst his left hand 

 keeps the horse's head and neck up to the proper 

 position, is a much more certain and also humane mode 

 of attaining the end for which ignorant riders employ 

 the one-sided twisted snaffle. 



A snaffle twisted on both sides is a much less objec- 

 tionable instrument, and may be safely used by a well- 

 and judicious rider who 'has a firm seat :. it 



