92 METHODS OF SUBJECTION. 



treatment, sometimes requiring considerable perseverance, there will 

 in a short time be such complete submission to it that the horse can 

 be held or controlled afterward, even under the greatest excitement, 

 by the lightest restraint of an ordinary bit. This principle of train- 

 ing is also illustrated in " Halter-Pulling," and in fact in every step 

 of subjective treatment. 



The length of the bit should be regulated to the size of the 

 mouth, so that when pulled upon, the bars will come at right angles 

 with the jaw on each side. The average length is eight and three 

 fourths inches from center to center of ring-holes when put together. 

 This makes the length of the short bars three and three eighths and 

 the long bars five and three eighth inches from center to center of 

 holes. It may be made much shorter, but it would proportionately 

 lessen the lever power of the bars upon the jaw, which is the key of 

 its success. The bars should be made of round cast-steel rod, filed 

 and polished perfectly smooth, about five sixteenths of an inch in 

 diameter. Between the bars, at the ends, there should be a small, 

 thin washer. The rings should be made of iron wire, about two and 

 a half to three inches in diameter. The bars especially should be 

 filed and polished perfectly smooth, so as to leave no rough corners 

 or surfaces anywhere. A round, stiff piece of leather may be stitched 

 inside the' rings ; while this may be dispensed with, it is desirable to 

 have it on. . ^ *i 



A great variety of bits are made on this principle, but their 

 construction is so faulty that they do not work well. They are 

 mainly defective in being too short and rough. This bit will not 

 bruise or cut the mouth. Some of the points which took me a good 

 many years to learn, were, that there was no practical advantage in 

 making the bars twisted and lough for the purpose of hurting 

 more ; that the lever power was the point of its success^ and that it 

 would work just as well when the bars were smooth as when twisted 

 and roughened, making the seribus objection of cutting and tearing 

 the mouth. 



The point of its use is, when put in the mouth the reins are to 

 be brought back through the shaft lugs so as to bring a straight, • 

 even pull upon the mouth backward, and prevent the horse from 

 turning around. A specially important point is that the hand parts 

 of the reins are large and soft, so as to give good hold upon them. 

 Now, stand behind, just beyond the reach of the heels, with a rein 

 twisted once around each hand, and after moving the horse moder- 

 ately, call "Whoa!" sharply, instantly following with a sharp* 

 quick, raking pull. The variation of the pull in the arms should not 



