47 



Chapter VT. 

 BITTING AND LEAVING THE RANKS. 

 Bits : 



There are several patterns of ports in the 

 regulation bit. For pullers, the higher ports 

 are generally most suitable. If one of your 

 horses is in the habit of getting his tongue 

 over the bit, make use of the Mohawk bit, 

 i.e., a bit with an extra port fixed above the 

 original one. The ends of the extra port are 

 made to hook into the eyes of the ordinary 

 bit, whilst the centre is fixed and kept in its 

 place by an india-rubber ring. The addi- 

 tional port can easily be made by the farrier. 

 Many horses, which are quite useless with an 

 ordinary bit, come readily to hand when the 

 Mohawk, which keeps the tongue in its proper 

 place, is used. In dealing with a so-called 

 '' puller," it is always well to remember the 

 truism, '' that it requires two to pull." 'By 

 simply slackening the reins, a give-and-take 

 feeling often results, and the horse ceases 

 pulling. 



