38 Silk, and Scarlet 



you will be able to take up his leg, and have a look 

 at his feet when you like. They'd be good two years 

 old before I did much in the breaking way with them. 

 The first two winters I always liked to keep them on 

 new sweet hay and bruised corn ; then I put on a nice 

 smooth bit, with a ring in the middle, and a player 

 fixed on it ; the bit should not be bigger than my 

 thumb here, and that ain't a very thick one. It should 

 be four-and-a-half inches, and even in the mouth. 

 The head-stall should not be too long, to let the bit 

 get low in the mouth, or he'll get his tongue above 

 the bit, and he'll never have a mouth all his born 

 days. You must not bear him upright with the bridle 

 How to put him rein. Put two round rings on each side 

 on the Bit. of the stall-post, one five, and the other 

 six feet from the ground. Then get two pillar-reins 

 six feet long, with buckles and billets at each end ; 

 buckle the rein to the bottom ring first ; pass it 

 through the top ring, and buckle it to the bridle-bit. 

 The bottom end of the billet-strap should be good 

 eight inches, to take up or let out, not a bit less. 

 That's the way to put a horse on the bit ; it don't 

 punish him ; and it acts with a leverage, so that the 

 horse can play with the bridle-bit, and he'll soon get a 

 The Christian good mouth. I've got the exact drawing 

 Bridie-bit. Qf ^j^^ bridle-bit at home ; gentlemen send 

 to me for it ; I'd several made this last spring. I 

 draw'd the pattern of it thirty years ago ; it's my own 

 invention ; it hurts no horse's mouth, and they can't 

 run away with you. I can stop a horse, or put him 

 on his hind legs with my finger, better with one of 

 those bits, than many can pulling with their whole 

 fist. I've often a deal of correspondence with gentle- 

 men wanting them. When you've had the roller and 

 straps about him, get the saddle carefully on, and 

 lunge him ; give him his time ; and always use him 

 to go round to the right hand ; then take him back 

 to the stable, and put him on the bit, and get some 



