MOUTHS AND MANNERS 



annually by a competent dentist, and no money is 

 more humanely or practically spent. 



Of course a four-ringed snaffle or other bit may 

 be used. for heavy harness work, and in light har- 

 ness the sensible and easy bits in vogue will in 

 their various combinations meet practically any 

 needs. In heavy harness, however, an "elbow" 

 or a "Liverpool" bit is the sort in general use, 

 and the methods named apply to these as to 

 others. Given a proper mouth, the acquisition 

 of acceptable manners is so natural a sequence 

 and so entirely a matter of a little patience and a 

 very reasonable amount of horse sense, that it is 

 hardly necessary to go into the ways and means 

 of perfecting education in these particulars. Firm- 

 ness and constant rehearsal until letter-perfect, 

 and all lessons short and frequent are the rules to 

 follow, and your horse's accomplishments in all 

 the practical decencies are limited only by your 

 own patience and intelligence as an instructor. 

 One always chuckles inwardly to hear an owner 

 say, " I can't wait, my old mare won't stand, and 

 has troubled me that way for the six years I 've 

 owned her." What folly to allow one's self to 

 be mastered by a dumb beast ! One might as well 

 admit that one could n't open one's office before 

 8 ii3 



