THE DRIVING-BIT 155 



they were dangerous, and horses were apt to get 

 them under the shaft or pole. 



The best pattern of driving-bit is what is known 

 as the ' Liverpool.' The cheeks or shanks are 

 separate, and the mouthpiece is made to move up 

 and down, with a play of about an inch between 

 its stops, forming what is called a ' sliding port.' 

 Such sliding ports certainly cause a horse to ' play ' 

 on the bit, but I do not altogether like them, as I 

 do not think they act quite as they should. They 

 are all very well when a horse is standing still and 

 ' mouthing ' his bit, but when the rein is drawn 

 tight, the mouthpiece jumps, as it were, and must 

 be very much of a shock to the horse, and I prefer 

 the use of a bit which does not slide. 



A driving - bit has usually two slots pierced 

 through the shank, so as to allow of the reins 

 being fastened high or low, according as it may be 

 desired to increase or decrease its power. These 

 slots are termed the ' middle ' and ' lower ' bars. 

 A horse may, therefore, be driven either from the 

 ring which is level with the mouthpiece, and which 

 is called the ' cheek,' the ' middle,' or the ' lower ' 

 bar ; and it is a by no means uncommon thing to 

 see a horse, especially in double harness, driven on 

 the cheek on one side of the mouth, and the middle 

 or lower bar on the other, but this, of course, is 



