122 BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS. 



that the most delicate mouth in a harness horse need 

 be wounded or hurt by one, but their general use 

 would be cruel, because the hands of the generality 

 of men would make them so ; a sharp bit in light 

 hands prevents horses getting into a lounging, dwell- 

 ing step, that fatigues them ; a horse may be allowed 

 to go as much at his ease with a sharp bit in his 

 mouth, as with an easier one ; this depends on the 

 driver. Now this would not hold good as regards 

 the hunter ; he could not do his business if ridden 

 on a bit that would be severe to him, though it may 

 be necessary to have one in his mouth to have re- 

 course to on occasion ; and why a harness horse can 

 go with a severe bit in his mouth (and that the only 

 one), and the hunter cannot, is easily explained. 



The hunter crosses all sorts of countries, (that is, 

 ground,) has to surmount all sorts of obstacles ; from 

 this arises the necessity of his making all sorts of 

 exertion to enable him to do so ; these often require 

 sudden extension of neck and head, which he re- 

 quires to be able to make quicker than the rider can 

 often anticipate : any check in doing this would pre- 



