126 BOARD OF AGRICULTURP:. [Pub. Doc. 



Bitting. 



I can only devote a few moments to bitting, and I want 

 to sa}'^ at the outset that I thoroughly appreciate the Ameri- 

 can abhorrence of curb bits, etc. ; but they are absolutely 

 necessary, and it is impossible to drive four horses or even 

 two horses properly with a plain snaffle bit. 



As the previous illustration showed, action is brought 

 about to a great extent by proper bitting and the carrying 

 of the chin in the right place ; and one would not l^e able to 

 drive four horses, to turn figure eights, — in fact, have them 

 under proper control at all times, — unless they were prop- 

 erly curbed. 



Every horse must be taught to know at once that he is 

 absolutely under your control ; and each horse of the four 

 must then, of course, feel the same. No man can hold four 

 horses, should they attempt to run away ; but they simply 

 do not attempt it, because they have been taught that they 

 cannot go up against the curb. With the plain or snaffle 

 bit the runaway with well-conditioned horses is easily 

 obtained ; but with the curb bit it is almost impossible, — 

 hence the need of same. 



Our American horses for years have been driven with the 

 overdraw check, to hold their chins out ; and the average 

 race driver has a pair of holders on the reins, and pulls 

 150 to 200 pounds on the lines ; and we all know many 

 and many a horse who pulls two in a buggy on the 

 reins. 



This is absolutely wrong for heavy harness horses. The 

 first thing to do is to have the chin dropped, the head in 

 the proper position ; have the body in touch with the bit 

 from the point of the chin to the tip of the shoe behind. 

 This was the principle of the celebrated French school of 

 Haut-e-Cole, and it is the principle that all successful hunt- 

 ers, high steppers, heavy harness horses, jumpers and hack- 

 neys are broken in on. 



There are many difl*erent kinds of bits and many different 

 methods of bitting ; but with the heavy harness horse the 

 princij^al i)oint is to teach him that he nmst not pull a 



