CH. XI 



BIT 



20I 



edge of the winker, so as to permit some flexibility 

 to the side of the bridle. 



Bit. — A great many different bits are fancied by 

 horsemen, but, for coaching, the patterns shown in 

 Fig. 88 are those most in use. The Liverpool bit, 



Fig. 88. 



A, has a straight mouth-piece, smooth on one side 

 and slightly fluted on the other, which plays up and 

 down on the branches of the bit for the distance 

 of about an inch. The portion of the branch on 

 which it moves should be square, as well as the hole 

 in the end of the mouth-piece, so that the branch 

 cannot turn, or else the coupling-rein will pull the 

 ring of the bit into a position to press against the 

 side of the horse's mouth and hurt him. An objec- 

 tion to having the branches moveable in the mouth- 

 piece is that they wear rapidly ; consequently many 

 coaching men prefer to have them fixed. When 

 the rein is buckled to the rinor or, as it is called, ' in 

 the cheek,' the bit acts like a plain snaffle. When 



