THE 'WARD' BIT. 141 



buckled on to either shank of the bit by means of 

 two small eyes, with which, I had omitted to 

 observe, the shanks of bits are provided for the 

 purpose. This strap passes through a loose ring 

 in the centre of the curb-chain, and serves to 

 prevent a horse throwing his bit up over his nose 

 — a habit which many horses acquire, and which 

 would constantly occur, were it not for this pre- 

 caution, with a fidgety horse which tosses his head 

 about. 



I have said that a snaffle is the safest bit to use 

 for hunting in a bank country, and so it is. There 

 is, however, a bit which is much used in Ireland, 

 and which is there called the ' Ward ' bit. It has 

 a very low port and very short shanks, the latter 

 almost shorter than the width of the mouthpiece. 

 There are many people who profess to like them. 

 I cannot say that I see any advantage in them, 

 inasmuch as they are useless as bits, and no better 

 than a good snaffle, and they most certainly do not 

 look well. They always make me think that those 

 who use them do so because they may pull at them 

 with impunity, and that they either dislike the use 

 of a snaffle or are afraid to use a proper bit. Any- 

 how, they do no harm, which is more than can be 

 said of many bits. The mouthpiece of a bit should 

 be amply wide enough for a horse's mouth, so as 



