194 j^^Vj and Bitting. 



it is to be devoted, and whether it has ever been bitted 

 before or not. If the trial-bit be really well adjusted 

 and the rider have a good hand, the horse will at once 

 take to the bit, or at least give a promise of doing so, 

 and nothing more will be required than to read off all 

 the dimensions from the trial-bit in order to have a 

 proper one constructed ; if, on the other hand, its action 

 be found unsatisfactory, the lower rings, the mouth- 

 piece or the upper bar must be shifted till it does suit. 



It should be borne in mind that the greatest defect a 

 bit can have is to fall through or capsize — that is to say, 

 describe a large circle before the horse shows itself sen- 

 sible to the lever action. When this takes place to the 

 extent of the lower bar forming nearly or altogether a 

 straight line with the rein, there is no lever action what- 

 ever, and a good snaffle would be more powerful. This 

 falling through may depend on the curb being too long, 

 or on the upper bar being absolutely too short, or on 

 the lower one being proportionately too long, especially 

 in cases where the conformation and dimensions of the 

 mouth absolutely require a very short upper bar, when 

 it may be necessary to make the lower one somewhat 

 less than twice the length of the former, according to 

 the rule we have given ; but such cases are few in num- 

 ber, and must be regarded as exceptions — it seemed, 

 however, advisable to mention them. 



The next greatest fault is when the bit stands stiff in 

 the horse's mouth ; and this will be generally found to 

 proceed from the curb being too tight or the upper bar 

 being too long, which latter always produces the third 

 fault — the mounting up of the curb out of the chin- 

 groove. 



In conclusion, a word as to horses acquiring the trick 

 of getting their tongues over the mouthpiece. This is a 

 great inconvenience, as it renders the action of the whole 

 machine uncertain. There is really no other method of 



