CH. XV 



BITTING 



;65 



Fig. 158. 



the pleasure of the rider. Battersby (p. 69) recom- 

 mends it, with much justice, as a bit for cavalry, 

 supplying, as it does, a snaffle-bit more convenient 

 than the separate watering-bridle now 

 in use. There is an advantage to a 

 cavalry man in having two reins, in 

 case one should be cut. 



The ordinary driving-bit is, in one 

 sense, a Pelham, since, although it has 

 no joint, there is a ring at the mouth- 

 piece for the rein, but, instead of having 

 a ring only at the end of the branch, 

 there are two or three eyes in the 

 branch, to either one of which the rein can be 

 buckled (Fig. 89). 



A, in Fig. 88, is usually called the Liverpool bit, 

 and sometimes, by French writers, the German bit ; 

 B and C are only modifications of it. D, the Bux- 

 ton bit, is on the same principle, but has its branch 

 curved, to prevent the horse from taking hold of it 

 with his lip. 



The Mexican, or South American, bit, which is the 

 same as the Turkish bit, has no curb-chain, but in 

 its place a ring, which is attached to the top of a 

 high port and goes under the chin of the horse ; 

 it is very severe. 



These classes comprise the bits that are in com- 

 mon use, but the number of forms and names is 

 very great ; more than ninety are figured in Latch- 

 ford's Loriner. 



