THE HORSE'S MOUTH 61 



usually be overcome in a moderately worked 

 horse if the bitting is made comfortable for him 

 and the soreness of the mouth relieved. 



Soreness of the mouth is by no means an vm- 

 common one among the exciting causes of "inter- 

 fering" and may frequently be observed even in 

 well broken horses when a change of bit, particu- 

 larly a change to a severe one, has produced some 

 injury to the mouth. Fatigue, bad shoeing, 

 rough or slippery roads, and the swaying of a 

 heavy two-wheeler are all exciting causes of 

 "striking," and the awkwardness arising from an 

 imperfectly made (not thoroughly bitted) mouth, 

 with the incidental soreness, is an important fac- 

 tor. 



Driving green horses in double harness is a 

 very fertile cause of sore mouths. There are un- 

 doubted advantages in handling green horses in 

 double harness, particularly shy, nervous ones, 

 as the break horse inspires confidence in the green 

 one and he is more easily controlled if badly 

 frightened; but one can make more rapid pro- 

 gress in making a mouth in single harness, or 

 in the saddle, than in double harness, for the op- 

 portunity of humoring it is better, and there is 

 only one temper to consider. Trainers of green 

 horses usually change the side horses are driven 

 on every day, which is a good plan, as it tends 

 to make them drive straight; but it is a tacit ac- 



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