MOUTHS AND MANNERS 



previously won as private carriage horses, pre- 

 sumably suitable for ladies and children to drive 

 behind ! Surely all horse-show exhibits should be 

 required to back freely and in a straight line, a 

 distance of at least twenty feet, and to stand still, 

 when " lined up," without a man to hold them, 

 or be instantly disqualified, be their merits ever so 

 great. Conditions are published far enough in 

 advance for intending exhibitors to familiarize 

 themselves with all details, and prepare accord- 

 ingly ; and if they will not take the trouble, or 

 have not the skill, to mouth and manner their 

 entries, let them " take the penalty for their neg- 

 lect." It would surely be for the best interests 

 of all if severe bitting were restricted, and no horse 

 allowed to compete which was apparelled in any- 

 thing but a plain elbow, or Liverpool bit, no 

 port, and the reins in either the cheek or half- 

 cheek, the chain loose and untwisted. We do 

 not want to know what an animal can be tortured 

 into doing, but to see what he does when left 

 comparatively to himself; and too many awards 

 have gone to the brutes that have to be " fished," 

 jerked, and whipped into the ribbons, and that 

 cannot, or will not, go a yard save under strong 

 compulsion. Any external evidence of appliances 



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