212 THE HORSE. 



should have it, and will pay well for it." Some 

 horses have great affection for their partners, and 

 should not be parted. 



"Very tender mouths. — Snaffles are unsafe, un- 

 less in single harness. The usual coach plan is to 

 cheek the tender mouthed horse, by putting his cou- 

 pling rein to the cheek instead of the bottom of the 

 bit; this being too severe, bringing his head too 

 much towards his partner ; his draught rein should 

 be put down to the bit, he should have liberty in his 

 bearing rein, be very moderately curbed, and be 

 worked out of the throat lash. Expedient for very 

 hard mouths. A bit with the double port — the 

 Chifney bit, putting the curb chain in the mouth, 

 over the tongue — letting out the head of the bridle in 

 the middle of a stage — a check rein in the middle of 

 the curb chain — the bearing rein put to the top of 

 the bit, and the coupling rein to the lowest loop in 

 the bit, &c. I have copied these admirable, and as I 

 have long known, too common expedients, chiefly for 

 the purpose of stating, that I have never observed any 

 good resulting from them ; it seems, in fact, as though 

 their proposed intent were to render the hard mouth 

 of a horse incurably so ; for the natural effect of these 

 antiquated devices is to induce a callus on whatever 

 part they take place; and you may as well pull against 

 a stone wall, as against the jaws and tongue of a 

 horse whereon they have been applied at all points. 

 If not such effect, a still worse ensues, the horse's 

 mouth continues raw and filled with blood, taking off 

 his appetite, cowing his spirit, gibbing him, and re- 

 ducing his powers. In a large concern, there are 



