MAETINGALS. 241 



tosses up his head so violently or pertinaciously as 

 to become unbearable, ride ^him a few times in a 

 *' rearing bit." This is an almost circular bit put 

 into the mouth, and resting on the bars ; it has a 

 strap which is fastened to the girths, giving him 

 ample^liberty for the free use of his head, but when 

 he tosses it up, this bit as it were gives him a blow 

 on the bars of the mouth, and finding this invariably 

 follows the act, he will leave it off. But in justice 

 and mercy, when thus correcting a failing, allow not 

 bad hands to give him notmerely an excuse but an 

 actual hint to commit it. 



If any one reading this article does not know what 

 a rearing-bit is, most trainers and all bitmakers can 

 show him one. If wanting a succedaneum for pre- 

 sent use, a second snafile-bit in the horse's mouth 

 with the reins fastened to the girths, will do as a 

 makeshift. This has the effect of punishing the 

 mouth each time the head is thrown up ; but it is, as 

 I say, only a makeshift, is unsightly — and when a 

 neat bit for the purpose is to be had for a sovereign, 

 why not get it ? 



