300 BITTING AND HANDLING HORSES CH. XV 



bet that I could do it at a sharp trot, and, following 

 the line indicated by the dots, did so easily. Since 

 the turn was made in a ten-acre field, there was no 

 particular difficulty in the feat. 



Another time, when driving a pair of strange 

 horses to a phaeton and approaching, on an upward 

 slope, a narrow gate into a park, a carriage came 

 suddenly out of the gate and made it necessary to 

 stop. Upon attempting to start up the slope, the 

 horses baulked, and refused to go on ; the groom, 

 jumping down, ran to their heads with the intention 

 of leading them, an operation which, besides being 

 awkward even if successful, would very likely have 

 led to an altercation between the horses and the 

 groom. The latter being ordered to stand aside, 

 the horses were merely turned round down the hill 

 and again turned at a distance sufficient to give 

 them some headway, and then went through the 

 gate at a trot without the slightest hesitation. 



Bitting and Handling Horses for Driving. — 

 The bits described and figured in the Chapter on 

 Harness, are those most in use for driving, although 

 there are many other patterns which, for special 

 reasons, are favourites. 



For saddle purposes, the bits are : first, the plain 

 snaffle, which is a jointed bit (like that shown in 

 Fig. 91), but with cheek-pieces, or horns, added to 

 the rings, so that they cannot be pulled through the 

 horse's mouth. This is the mildest form of bit, and 



