6 



and Saddle, and no other ; and as I have another horse the No. 2. Segundo 

 bit suits so well I am come to buy one." I could give hundreds of similar 

 instances of unintentional cruelty to horses, by forcing them to go with 

 wrong bits, but hope the two will suffice. I frequently tell my friends, that 

 out of every twenty bits I make, nineteen are for men's heads and not more 

 than one really for the horse's head. I admit temper sometimes has some- 

 thing to do with it ; but are not some of us bad tempered sometimes ? What 

 better means have we to meet such cases, than patience and kindness ? Please 

 your horse and your horse will please you. It is a great mistake on the part 

 of any one to suppose he has found any one peculiar Bit that will suit all 

 horses. No part of God's creation is more varied consequently require more 

 patience and kind attention than the horse's mouth and temper. 



Of the many in the last half-century that have written on the suita- 

 bility of one sort of Bit for all horses, is a Treatise by DON JUAN SEGUNDO, 

 1832, printed herewith, at that time the greatest authority in Spain. He con- 

 structs his Bit scientifically, strictly in accordance with the anatomy of the 

 hdrse's head, and more particularly the interior of the mouth; he varies in the 

 length of cheek, the thickness of mouth-piece and curb chains, but all the 

 same in principle. He being so thoroughly Spanish, and the horses so 

 different (Moorish) to ours, I found it necessary to deviate from his strict 

 rules in a few instances in the construction of his Bits, in order the better to 

 suit our English horses ; where, with all his great science included, this Bit 

 does not suite all horses ; but give credit where credit is due. I have found 

 it suit more horses than any other, except the Melton Mouth Bit, No. 28 ; 

 this has been in greatest demand during the last thirty years ; next in demand 

 has been the Segundo Bit. 



Herewith are a few drawings representing such Bits as are now and 

 have been principally in use in Great Britain during the last century. 



In the sincere wish that this little work may be found acceptable, 

 I beg to subscribe myself, 



Your very obedient Servant, 



BENJAMIN LATCHFORD. 



