34 HANDBOOK OF THE TUEF. 



ley bridoon. 4 : Gig hit — Squirrel-tail style, stationary cheek. 

 5: Miscellaneous — Burton's drenching bit for administering 

 medicines ; Green's operating bit, having an adjustable double- 

 bar, with sliding side-pieces fastened by set-screws, to hold the 

 jaws open while performing operations. 



The bit has a wide field in botli its general use and in its individual 

 operations, wliich, in tlie saddle horse's mouth, is or should be 

 magical. Every horse we see employed, has a bit in his mouth; 

 every race is lost and won with the bit, and under its management 

 millions of dollars a year change hands. It plays its part in all the 

 equine feats, interests and operations in every land, whether 

 civilized or barbaric, in both peace and war, and in the truck, cart, 

 car and agricultiiral interests it plays its most humble, yet impor- 

 tant part. While in war. a nation might as well lay dow"^!) its arms 

 as to relinquish the bit.— The Bridle Bits, Col. J. C. Battersby. 



Bit and Bridoon. A double bridle. The bridle has 

 two distinct bits — the curb bit and the bridoon bit. If one bit 

 or rein should break there is one of each left. Each bit has a 

 separate headstall, and to each bit there is a separate rein. A 

 martingale is used with this bridle, and so looped on the over- 

 lapping girth that both girths shall fit tight to the horse. A 

 perfect bit for pleasure riding. The bridoon rein on which the 

 martingale hangs is less than an inch wide, but its strength 

 corresponds with the power used wdth it in holding the horse 

 up while riding in ordinary, lifting him at the leap, or in bear- 

 ing the strain of the martingale if necessarily short. Col. 

 Battersby says of it that " for use on the road or in the park, it 

 is the embodiment of perfection, and can never be improved 

 upon or surpassed." 



Bitting" Rig". The bitting rig for gentling and educat- 

 ing young colts consists of bridle, saddle or surcingle, and 

 crupper. The bit should be the plain, jointed snaifle, and the 

 bridle will have the ordinary side check. 



Bitting, Good. The characteristics of good bitting are 

 lightness, accuracy, easy motion and a total absence of stiff- 

 ness, constraint or painful action. If these be attained as the 

 result of careful handling and correct education, ready obedi- 

 ence to the rider's hand and heel will be the result. 



Blanket. See Clothing. 



Blaze. A white spot on the face of a horse of dark 

 color. 



Blemish. A defect; any mark or imperfection which 

 impairs beauty or diminishes value. Among the blemishes in 

 the exterior of the horse are : Enlargements upon the limbs 

 which do not impede the horse in his work, like curby hocks ; 

 roach back; scars from wounds or sores; bald places on the 

 skin, and the profile of the fore legs when they have a devia- 

 tion forward of anything more than the very slightest. 



