62 ESSAYS ON HORSE SUBJECTS 



knowledgment that there is more or less soreness 

 of the mouth. 



If the mouth is bruised or excoriated on the 

 portion of the bars of the lower jaw where the 

 bit presses, keep the bit out of it, if possible, until 

 it heals. This need not prevent the horse being 

 exercised, for if a suitable place is available, he 

 can be lunged a sufficient time daily to keep him 

 in condition and under control. The lunging 

 line can be buckled in the noseband of the halter, 

 and no bit need be used. If a suitable place for 

 lunging is not available and it is necessary to lead 

 the horse alongside of another that is ridden, it 

 can be done without the use of a bit by using a 

 tightly applied standing martingale, made with 

 a headpiece and attached to a girth that is kept 

 in its place by a crupper. The headline should 

 be attached to the noseband of the headstall. In 

 some instances changing to a bit that exerts its 

 pressure so as not to interfere with the sore part 

 will answer, as, for instance, the substitution of 

 a snaffle for a Liverpool ; but in most instances it 

 is better to keep the bit out of the mouth alto- 

 gether until it heals. When the mouth is suffi- 

 ciently healed to stand the pressure of the bit 

 again it is a very necessary precaution before 

 driving for the first few times to take the sharp 

 edge off the spirit of the horse by lunging him 



