TRAINING; THE MOUTH, 



111 



for some time, and driving' directly with the bit. In my practice I 

 trained the mouth directly with the bit. If the bitting method is 

 adopted, the course to be pursued is to put on a bridle with an ordi- 

 nary smooth snaffle Ijit and leave it on until accustomed to it, then 

 put on any ordinary rig and check at first so as to bring but iittle 

 restraint upon the head, leaving it on thirty or forty minutes. Next 

 day check a little shorter, and let him run in a yard, or be led by the 

 side of another horse. , At each repetition check a little shorter, until 

 the head is brought as high as he will bear, and submit to it. If this 



Fig. 139.— The Colt as he Stands after Treatment. 



course be 1 adopted, be careful not to draw too tight at first, nor leave 

 on too long. Many a colt is ruined or killed by this kind of impru- 

 dence. The error in bitting usually is that the colt is caught and 

 entirely held by force and, while perhaps greatly frightened and ex- 

 cited, the rig is put on and the head checked up high and fastened. 

 there mercilessly. The/ result is that if a colt of much temper and 

 courage, he is liable to get mad, rear up, and throw himself over 

 back, which frequently results in his being killed. In any event he 

 -is worried and excited to a degree that causes serious harm. An-, 

 other thing : if left on too long, he becomes tired, and to relieve him- 

 self he rests the head upon the bit, and thus learns the habit of lug- 



