BITTING. 



109 



FIG. 104. The head as nature designed 

 it should be carried. 



the gag-runners, down through the rings of the bit on each 

 side, thence back through the loops on each side of the sur- 

 cinglo, and tie into the hip ring of the back-band sufficiently 

 short to give the restraint required. The higher the cord 

 is held on each side, the 

 greater the tendency to 

 pull the head up and back, 

 while the lower, the 

 greater the tendency to 

 pull the nose in ; so the 

 length and height on each 

 side must be regulated to 

 suit the case. While by 

 this means there is re- 

 straint upon the head up 

 and backward, the sliding 

 of the line or cord through 

 the rings and gag-runners gives sufficient freedom for the 

 head to be brought down, thereby easing the weariness of 

 the restraint. 



Training the mouth implies teaching it to submit freely 

 to flexible restraint. Now bitting is only a partial step to- 

 wards accomplishing this, as it only holds the head to a 

 fixed position of restraint. Not infrequently, when the 

 head is checked high and held there so long as to weary 

 the muscles of the neck, the head is rested upon the bit 

 for relief, and imperceptibly the habit of lugging is learned. 

 Several other bad habits may also be learned by this indi- 

 rect method of training the mouth ; the annoying habit of 

 pulling on one rein, holding the head down when pulled 

 upon, refusing to stand, back, or to rein freely, or refusing 

 to rein but one way when excited or maddened. 



There has been practically no remedy for these diffi- 

 culties, yet they are in most cases easily prevented or over- 



