THE HARD-MOUTHED HORSE 



fits its morals, and economizes the wear and tear of 

 its physical mechanism. My own opinion and prac- 

 tice agree with those of Baucher. 



THE HARD-MOUTHED HORSE 



THE hard-mouthed horse has insensitive bars; and 

 is, therefore, able to resist the bit. Baucher insists 

 that there is no such thing. Fillis admits its exist- 

 ence, but lays it to the lack of skill of former riders. 

 I, in a way, agree with them both. 



Fillis offsets the lack of sensibility by using a 

 severer bit. His method is sound and practical for 

 the man who must ride a hard-mouthed animal, 

 yet has not the time to educate his mount. But the 

 severe bit is only a provisional remedy, since the 

 horse will very soon become accustomed to this also 

 and pull against it as before. For the trainer who 

 can spare the time needed for a real cure, Baucher's 

 idea is the right one, and I am completely of his 

 opinion. 



I have already explained that, in natural con- 

 formation, there are three sorts of bars. I do not, 

 however, believe that the lack of sensibility of any 

 sort follows directly from its shape. It is, rather, 

 an indirect result of other causes. 



Consider, for example, two different horses, rid- 

 den by the same trainer, who we will assume is 

 entirely competent. One of these animals is well 

 conformed, with a somewhat heavy neck, and 

 heavy or fleshy bars. The other is badly conformed 



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