Horses and Horssmastership. 93 



narrow for his mouth), and the bridle should be so 

 regulated as to ensure the bits being in their proper 

 places in the mouth. I say "' bits," because such a horse 

 should never be ridden in a single bit or without a curb, 

 which latter should admit two fingers between it and 

 the jaw. A curb fitted tighter than this is not nearly 

 so effective, though some ignorant grooms think it can't 

 be too tight, and accordingfly send the horse out un- 

 comfortable, which is enough to upset his temper. Of 

 course, no hcrsemaster leaves such things to his groom, 

 or, if he does, he is careful to look round his horse before 

 mounting to see that everything is properly fitted. 



Shying is due to nervousness at unaccustomed sights 

 or sounds, and, in the case of older horses, to imperfect 

 eyesight. Some horses will shy when they "get past 

 themselves" through a too liberal supply of corn and lack 

 of work. I am of opinion that the darkness of most 

 stables is also a predisposing cause. Is is a great mistake 

 to beat a horse for shying, for that only adds to his 

 nervousness. The proper course is to speak kindly to 

 him, bringing him back, if need be, to face the object 

 of his alarm. Encourage him to go up close to it, and 

 so convince him that the fearsome thing was harmless. 

 Colts who have been at grass in the vicinity of a railway 

 get so used to trains that they never heed them, but 

 when a youngster who has never seen such a thing before 

 comes to the gates of a level-crossing just as a train is 



