24 HORSEMANSHIP FOE WOMEN. 



LESSON III. 

 TO HOLD THE BIT LIGHTLY, USING THE SNAFFLE. 



Begin by repeating in proper order all that has been 

 done at the previous lessons. Now, having got the horse 

 "light in hand" with the curb, relax the curb-rein and 

 try to keep him light with the snaffle. 



He will probably begin to bear on it. If so, restrain 

 him by successive tugs, punishing him a little with the 

 curb, if necessary, and always rewarding him with praises 

 and caresses when he does well. Avoid any violent use 

 of the curb, or the horse, in his efforts to escape the pain, 

 may get his tongue over the bit, and thus acquire a very 

 troublesome habit. It must be remembered that the bit 

 being the principal channel of communication between 

 his mind and yours, his whole attention is concentrated 

 upon it, and he is almost as much disconcerted by a sud- 

 den harsh movement of it as you would be by an unex- 

 pected shout in your ear. 



By this time your groom is perhaps watching you 

 with interest, and may be trusted to repeat your hand- 

 ling, thus saving you some time and trouble; but, as a 

 general thing, two lessons a day of from half to three- 

 quarters of an hour each, are as much as a horse can re- 

 ceive with profit. 



