CHAPTER VI 



BITS AND HARNESS 



The question of bits is a difficult one to write upon, 

 as horse owners are very divided in opinion on the 

 subject ; but it is safe to say that, as a rule, the vast 

 majority of light horses go about their work very 

 much overbitted. This is partly due to ignorance 

 on the part of their owners ; but even well-informed 

 persons^ who know better, are often offenders in this 

 respect, as, in the first place, people consider that a 

 horse cuts a more imposing figure if his mouth is 

 filled with iron, and, secondly, a severe bit has the 

 effect of causing him to fidget and fret, which conveys 

 to the public the erroneous impression that the 

 animal is possessed of an inordinate amount of fire 

 and mettle. 



It is quite impossible in an elementary work to 

 attempt to enter upon a description of all the many 

 bits which are used at the present day, and still less 

 is it possible to give a list of the scores of inventions 

 which from time to time have been foisted upon the 

 public as being necessary for the well-being of horse- 

 flesh and the comfort or safety of riding and driving 

 men. At the same time, still harping upon the 

 inadvisability of overbitting, it may be stated, as a 

 matter of opinion based upon experience upon the 

 part of the writer, that nine-tenths of the horses now 

 at work will shape better and be far more comfort- 

 able if plain snaffles were in their mouths. Many a 



D 



