MOUTHS AND MANNERS 



handle them as one rein, and rest their weight 

 upon both aHke. It is a miracle, not that the 

 horses occasionally turn sulky, and rear and run 

 away, but that most of them are so well behaved 

 under their uncomfortable accoutrements. Now 

 that the " full " bridle — the double-bitted — is in 

 such general use, it behooves every one who rides 

 to carefully study the effect of the bits ; to ascertain 

 by experiment how a horse goes most pleasantly ; 

 to purchase larger and easier bits, and to inspect 

 the inside of their horses* mouths and consider 

 those wonderfully constructed, delicate, and sen- 

 sitive membranes upon which these instruments 

 must rest. 



As in the case of the saddle-horse, so with the 

 heavy harness-horse; we do not use ordinary care 

 that his comfort is assured before we ask or expect 

 perfect service. We jam a huge " Liverpool " or 

 " elbow *' bit between his teeth, and before he has 

 more than licked it over, proceed to convey to 

 him a series of most confusing signals, which he 

 has neither time nor preliminary instruction 

 enough to understand. In his confusion he 

 finally makes a leap or plunge, and, not allowing 

 for the action of the bit, or the fact that the 

 driver's weight will almost break his jaw-bone, 



105 



