176 



Bits and Blttiri}. 



ment and general conformation of the animal ; finally, 

 too, on the description of service to which it is to be 

 applied ; to which must, in some cases, be added the 

 peculiar style of riding or driving of the individual that 

 uses it ; for nothing can be more certain than that the 

 best bitting in the world is wholly useless, nay, some- 

 times dangerous, in bad, that is to say, heavy or rude 

 hands. 



Fig. 13 shows a succession of mouthpieces of the 

 forms now generally adopted, beginning with the light- 

 est — that is to say, the one whose pressure is almost 

 entirely exercised on the tongue — and proceeding on- 

 ward with an increase of port or " tongue-freedom" to 



Fig. 13. — Various mouthpieces. 



the very sharpest it is advisable or can ever be neces- 

 sary to use — namely, to one in which the height of the 

 port is equal to its width, say i\ inches; and beyond 

 this it is impossible to go, because the slightest pull on 

 the rein would, by altering the position of the lever, 

 bring the top of the port to press against the palate, 

 causing more or less pain, and therefore inducing the 

 horse to bore with its head in the contrary direction to 

 the pressure — that is, away from the rider's hand. 



A mere inspection of these figures shows that the 

 thickness of the iron or steel is an important item ; the 



