184 RUNMNG AWAY. 



Bit will in, many cases also work well: Its thin, bearing surface, , 

 when pressed hard against, hurts so keenly that but few horses will 

 have the nerve to resist it. The Spoon Bit also, in many cases, 

 works excellently by the pressure it brings upon the jaws laterally, 

 thereby making it a good form of bit for cases that will not rein 

 easily, or that will pull on one side. Next comes the Four-ring Bit, 

 which, with its improvement, is a very simple but powerful means of 

 controlling doubtful, headstrong, lugging horses. It is particularly 

 well adapted for the easy driving of side-reiners. The fourth and last 

 is the Patent Bridle, which has been designed by me especially for 

 the direct control of headstrong, runaway horses. 



The power of the Patent Bridle is so great that when properly 

 adjusted it is very difficult for a horse to make any prolonged resist- 

 ance to it. It acts in three important ways : First, in its most se- 

 vere form it will produce such intense pain in connection with its 

 great power upon the mouth, that it is very difficult for the most 

 courageous horse to resist its restraint ; second, in proportion to 

 the resistance, if any, it brings such a pressure upon the spinal cord 

 that it becomes difficult to bear up against it for any length of time ; 

 third, its impression is so great upon the nervous system that should 

 it be resisted hard for some time, there will rarely be any inclination 

 to pull against it afterward. 



It is proper to add that these combinations and forms of bits 

 may be varied in different ways to an almost unlimited degree. 

 Properly used, great results can be accomplished with the Breaking 

 Bit alone, as before explained. It requires more work, but is the 

 only bit I have found that works satisfactorily in making the mouth 

 sensitive to the control of an ordinary snaffle bit. As will be no- 

 ticed in the chapter on " Kicking," it was by the use of this bit that I 

 was able to perform my best results in the control of runaway kickers. 

 If the mouth is stiff and hard, and it is desired to make it flexible, 

 put on the harness with this bit in the bridle, run the reins through 

 the shaft-bearers, and get directly behind. Now slowly move the 

 horse on a moderate walk, and suddenly call, " Whoa !" following 

 instantly with a quick, raking jerk upon the reins. Repeat at short 

 intervals, until at the moment the. command is given the horse will 

 stop instantly to avoid the hurt of being pulled upon. Then gradu- 

 ally increase the gait to a fast trot or run, making him stop as 

 before. 



At this point it is necessary to be very thorough. There should 

 be no half-way work. The submission must be of the most pro- 

 nounced character. After this is done in harness, so that when the 



