226 PRECEPT ATfD PRACTICE. 



would be also useless, from not knowing how to 

 apply them. There is a middle class of riders, of 

 which the majority of those who ride are mainly 

 composed : in medio tutissmms ibis I conclude is 

 their motto, and in this way it certainly holds good. 

 They would not get a broken leg from backing their 

 horse against an omnibus, and as probably they 

 would never ride at a gate or brook ; they run no 

 risk of getting a fall from the one or a souse in the 

 other ; yet such riders know quite enough to be 

 aware of when their horse goes handsomely and 

 pleasantly to themselves, so I infer that to such a 

 few hints on bits may be useful. It will be sufficient 

 if I give the names of them and their several uses 

 and effects ; their form may be seen by going to a 

 bit maker. 



First in point of severity comes the Chifney ; the 

 great merit, indeed, the only effective peculiarity it 

 has, is, acting at once on the horse's mouth un- 

 trammelled by the check-straps of the bridle, which 

 its double upper branch enables it to do. It has an- 

 other advantage, it returns to its place instantlv on 



