i 4 4 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



inclined to bore it is apt to make him bore rather 

 than prevent his doing so ; but in order to obviate 

 this, a brother officer of mine, Captain (now Major) 

 Haynes, contrived a combination of running gag 

 to use with it instead of the ordinary snaffle, and 

 he got Mr. Cooper, the saddler in York (who had, 

 I believe, at one time the monopoly for the sale of 

 the ' Ben Morgan ' bits, and, indeed, may still have 

 it, for aught I know to the contrary), to carry it out 

 for him ; and it is a most excellent arrangement, 

 inasmuch as the bit acting downwards, and the gag 

 upwards, the horse's head is thereby kept steady. 

 Of course, where a horse does not bore this com- 

 bination is unnecessary, and the ordinary snaffle 

 can be used. I have used it myself, and can vouch 

 for its good qualities, and was enabled by its use to 

 hunt with the most perfect comfort a horse which 

 I could not hold with any other bit, and whose 

 mouth was as hard as a paving-stone. I can also 

 answer for its good qualities as a driving-bit. 

 I was not aware, for some time after I purchased the 

 one referred to, that such bits were made for use in 

 harness. At the time we had, as wheeler in our regi- 

 mental coach, a horse which, as a puller, I believe 

 was never beaten. Many a time have I cursed 

 the day he was foaled, for he was surely the most 

 inveterate puller which ever looked through a collar ; 



