IMPROVING ACTION 85 



if he is capable of doing so. The bearing reins 

 should seldom, if ever, be used on the driving 

 bit; if it is at all tight, it pulls the bit too high 

 in the mouth, causing a horse to bore and usually 

 to bruise the bars severely immediately in front 

 of the grinders. A jointed bit should be used 

 in the mouth in addition to the driving bit and the 

 bearing rein buckled to it. 



So far we have been referring to bitting only 

 as having a contributing influence in increasing 

 the forward or knee action; but it has also a 

 marked effect in improving the hock action. It 

 is remarkable how much the hock action can be 

 increased by cultivating a responsive mouth, 

 dropping the nose into its proper position, or, 

 in other words, balancing a horse. 



Before we leave the subject of the mouth and 

 bitting altogether, we must refer to condition as 

 an important factor in contributing to action. 

 Before a horse can be made to show all the action 

 there is in him, he must be toned up to the high- 

 est pitch. He must be full of nervous energy, 

 and his muscles thoroughly developed. He must 

 not only feel like doing it, but must also have the 

 power. It takes time to bring this about. The 

 cultivation of the mouth and the toning up of 

 the system should proceed together, but never 

 let the toning up get ahead of the education of 

 the mouth. It is better not to have a horse feel- 



