70 



BITS AND BRIDLE GEAR. 



Another objection to a jointed snaffle is that a horse can 

 get his tongue over it more easily than over an unjointed one. 



When a horse carries his head in a more or less perpen- 

 dicular manner, the bars and tongue offer the chief resistance ; 

 but when he extends his head, or when the rider raises his 

 hands too high, the pressure is likely to fall on the corners of 

 the mouth (Figs. 87 and 88), and possibly on the back teeth in 

 some cases. I cannot say with certainty that a horse ever 

 " takes the bit between his teeth," to use a common ex- 



Kalmuck on Russian Remount. 



pression ; although it is probable that he may at times bear 

 against the snaffle with the front part of his back teeth. 



The bars are the most sensitive part on which the snaffle 

 acts. To save them from pain inflicted by the bit, horses, 

 especially if they are inclined to pull, will throw up their 

 heads or poke out their noses, so as to get the pressure 

 on to the corners of their mouths. It is evident that the 

 effect of a snaffle is at a minimum when a rider holds his 

 hands high, and when the horse keeps his head raised and his 

 muzzle advanced. 



