THE 'BEN MORGAN' BIT 143 



no stable should be without one where more than 

 two or three horses are kept, as there is sure to be 

 one horse at least which it would suit. 



Ben Morgan, who for many years was huntsman 

 to the Pytchley (and no better ever carried a horn), 

 invented a bit which bears his name, and a very 

 excellent bit it is, especially for horses which pull 

 or carry their heads too high, or for horses whose 

 heads are badly or heavily set on. It is, to all 

 appearances, when on, like an ordinary bit, but the 

 mouthpiece, instead of having a port in it, is per- 

 fectly round and smooth, and is made in a slight 

 curve from cheek to cheek, with the curve lying 

 downwards towards the horse's teeth — like what is 

 called a half-moon bit, only reversed. As the 

 mouthpiece is low in the horse's mouth in the centre 

 only, it therefore bears on the tongue, and, more- 

 over, prevents a horse from getting ' dead ' in hand, 

 as he, trying to reach it, plays on it, and so yields 

 his head to the hand of the rider. It is perfectly 

 smooth and simple in its action, and does not cut or 

 bruise a horse's mouth, inasmuch as it obtains by, 

 as it were, cajolery what cannot be secured by 

 force. It is necessary that, in order to obtain the 

 full advantage of its action, the curb-chain should 

 be as slack as it reasonably can be. I know but 

 one thing against it, which is, that if a horse is 



