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meet with the bit in the horses mouth, although not generally, as i re. 

 quently there is neither saddle, stirrups nor bridle to be found. To guide 

 the horse, a strap was slung around the horse's neck. The force with 

 which the horses occasionally pulled on this strap to liberate themselves 

 and the accidental catching of the same in the horse's mouth, together 

 with the fact that they were then more manageable, may have given 

 the first idea for a harness and bridle; to both sides of a sort of halter 

 reins -were attached, and afterward an iron mouth piece was inserted' 

 which was broken in the middle or side, or merely a small piece of chain • 

 it resembled therefore, the ordinary snaffle, with simple knots or knobs 

 on each end. Bits of this kind are frequently met with on sculptures of 

 the time of Pericles. (430 13. C) But the headstall had not been known 

 long, as the bits were fastened with straps going around the horse's 

 nose; this bit soon made room for a snaffle very similar to the one now in 

 use, only that sometimes another strap came down from the headstall 

 in front of the nose band. A chain, such as our curb chain appears now 

 and then, probably to hold the bit in its place. The curb was unknown 

 to the Greeks, and the only severe effects found in the old bits were 

 rough and sharp elevations on the inside of the knobs of the snaffle, act- 

 ing upon the corners of the horse's mouth; such a bit was, from its re. 

 semblance to the teeth of a wolf, called "Lupatum." Nothing was known 

 of saddles, as we have them now, but the horse's back was covered, b e 

 it for comfort or show, -with costly blankets and rare animal skins, 

 which were fastened with a girth. According to the historical tradition, 

 the horse of Aeneas was covered with the skin of a lion; the one of the 

 Parthenonius with the skin of a lynx. At religious and other occasions, 

 these covers were especially rich and not unfrequently decorated with 

 gold, silver or precious stones, and bells were attached to the horse's 

 mane. The stirrup was also unknown; this comfortable aid in mount 

 ing and dismounting came into use remarkably late. In the middle of 

 the twelfth century of the christian era, the stirrup is first mentioned in 

 the book of Kustathius; but proofs show, that it had been in use one 

 hundred years previously. Berenger gives a copy of a horse, saddled 

 and bridled and provided with stirrups, which is taken from a tapestry 

 at Bayeux, and was embroidered at the time of "William the Conquerer 

 by his wife, representing scenes of his landing inKngland, (tune 1027 to 

 1087). The heroes of antiquity depended upon their agility and swung 

 themselves upon their horses' back from either side; those armed with 

 lances and spear, had provided the same with a projectio non the lower 

 end, or with a simple sling, which helped them to mount as well as to 

 hold their weapons with more security. Some animals were trained to 

 facilitate mounting by bending down their necks, or by kneeling down 

 Persons of high rank had slaves or servants on hand to assist them in 

 getting on or off their horses; now and then a short ladder -was used, 

 and the magistrates in Greece as well as Rome had to see, that at inter- 

 vals not too far apart, mounting blocks were erected of stone, for the 

 comfort of equestrians. At an early period the riders' legs were pro- 

 tected by boots, to which the spear was afterward attached. The horse's 



