ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOOY. 75 



mouthpiece of the bit and bridoon by attaching the bridoon reins 

 to rings at the end' of the mouthpiece of the bit. 



There are thousands of variations of the three classes of bits 

 described in this chapter.* In all these variations the one ob- 

 ject sought is to manufacture a bit that will control the horse 

 and, at the same time, guide him. A horse is an animal of low 

 intelligence; unless startled or hurt, he is usually willing to do 

 as he is bid. When suddenly alarmed, his small intelligence is 

 entirely absorbed in how to escape from the cause of his alarm. 

 In such a moment his rider must have an instrument that, by 

 the pain it can inflict, will draw his attention away from the 

 thing that threatens to the thing that hurts. As a creature of 

 habit, he has learned to obey certain signals in a set way; if the 

 bit, while inflicting pain, also gives the signal he has learned to 

 obey, he will instinctively obey it. Then the infliction of pain 

 should cease. 



In selecting a combination of bit and bridoon, the bit should 

 be powerful, but perfect fitting, and the bridoon as comfortable 

 as possible, in order to let the horse know definitely the differ- 

 ence between guidance and control. The guidance should be 

 mild, the control absolute. 



*One firm in New York, dealing in nothing but bits, sends out a 

 catalogue of over four hundred pages describing their goods, and 

 several bits are described on each page. 



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