72 ESSAYS ON HORSE SUBJECTS 



ment, the tongue is not by degrees trained to 

 stand the pressure of the bit, the horse is sure 

 to develop some irritable habit with that organ, 

 such as putting it over the bit, drawing it up in 

 the mouth, or * 'lolling' ' it. The result of the two 

 former habits is that the bars of the jaw lose the 

 protection of the tongue and become exposed to 

 the pressure of the bit, which they cannot stand 

 without suffering pain and injury. Consequent- 

 ly the mouth becomes very unsteady, loses its 

 responsiveness, and the horse is put off his bal- 

 ance, so that he is apt to go off his feet, hitch, and 

 go cornerwise instead of straight. 



Putting the tongue over the bit and retracting 

 it in the mouth has the further ill-effect of making 

 a horse show irritability in a variety of ways, 

 such as crossing the jaws, carrying the head 

 sideways, throwing the head up, keeping the 

 mouth open, slobbering, frequent movement of 

 the head instead of a steady carriage of it, which 

 is so important in conducing to a responsive 

 mouth. Putting the tongue over the bit soon 

 becomes habitual with some horses, and it is 

 quite a difficult matter to remedy effectually. 

 Spoon bits and all such mechanical contrivances 

 to prevent it are very unsatisfactory, as a horse 

 is never comfortable with them, and never carries 

 a steady head with any of them in his mouth. It 

 can, however, be cured by gradually getting a 



