108 PULLING ON THE BIT. 



gentle and moderate disposition, but when warmed up aad 

 sweaty pulls hard, try, first, as the simplest treatment, 

 winding the bit with flannel or cloth. This will work 

 nicely on some horses of finje organization ; try next a 

 rubber bit. If these fail, try next the four-ring bit, which 

 has a peculiar effect in the control of this habit : it works 

 finely on these nervous-tempered, excitable pullers. 



Take an ordinary snaffle-bit, or have a bit made by a 



smith, as in cut No. 2. 

 Bend one of the rings 

 into the form of a link, 

 slip over it two rings 

 about an inch and a 



half each in diameter, straighten back the ring to its origi- 

 nal form, and you have a common snaffle-bit, with two 

 small rings on the mouth-piece. Buckle into a common 

 bridle. Get made next two straps, one two feet in length 

 and three-quarters of an inch wide, made like a hame- 

 strap ; the other about three feet in length, narrower and 

 lighter. Run the short strap through both rings, and 

 buckle double, in the form of a nose-piece, buckling just 

 long enough to fit around the nose closely. Bring the 

 long strap around the short one at the centre, pass up and 

 through a little loop left in the bridle, between the ears 

 and buckle, just short enough to let the nose-piece come 

 straight across the nose. It will now be found, by stand- 

 ing in front of the horse, putting both thumbs through the 

 rings, and giving a little jerk down and backwards, that 

 the head will be thrown up and back easily. The strap 

 across the nose will act as a fulcrum, when the rings on 

 the end of the bit are pulled upon, the two inside rings 

 slide towards the centre, forcing the joint upwards against 

 the roof of the mouth, which causes so much pain, that 

 the horse will not try to resist, after being pulled upon a 

 few times. It overcomes pulling on one rein, or throwing 

 the nose upon the breast. The effect of this bit on some 

 horses is very great. It does not cut or make the mouth 

 sore, and is valuable on horses that pull hard when 

 warmed up. 



This four-ring bit has been pushed by many parties, as 

 a great feature for running away, kicking, &c., and claimed 



