138 HUMANE HORSE-TRAINING 



piece of leather ; buckle the horse's tail down with the 

 straps and pull the hair out and so hide the device. 

 This will soon cure the habit. Another way is to have 

 a strap fastened to the crupper and taken down to the 

 breeching. Then strap the tail to it. Drive the horse 

 with the Indian war bridle under the ordinary bridle ; 

 have the rope with you in the trap and give a few jerks 

 every time the horse tries to switch his tail. 



Do not use gag-bits, they only irritate and injure the 

 mouth and never really stop a runaway or a bad puller. 

 A nose-strap is just as cruel as the net one so often 

 sees on a puller. These devices cause temporary suffo- 

 cation, and are therefore cruel, and horse-lovers use them 

 in sheer ignorance. The " Two in one " bit is becoming 

 very popular, and is quite humane. 



The Irish martingale is very effective for a head- 

 thrower — ^two rings joined by three inches of leather on 

 the reins sliding about behind the jaw. 



Never use a bearing-rein. An over-check is more 

 humane and effective. 



If the horse is a wind-sucker he can be checked by 

 having a hollow bit placed in his mouth whilst in the 

 stables. A tube with a few holes drilled in it will suffice. 

 This is better than using a tight neck-strap, which is 

 also a cruel practice. 



