especial case, to enable one to undertake the task of selecting and fitting bits with any chance of success; whereas it is a matter that is most usually intrusted to certain classes of individuals who possess no other qualification than the habit of wearing green baize aprons or nether garments of a very peculiar description—viz., saddlers and grooms.

K

CHAPTER III.

THE CAVESSON-SNAFFLE-NOSEBAND-TRAINING

HALTER-RUNNING-REINS.

THE cavesson, not being a bit, is mentioned here only because some riders are in the habit of commencing the handling of young horses with this instrument, which, although most useful and admirable in the hands of a really skilful person, is equally dangerous and destructive in those of ignorant and brutal horse-breakers. If a young horse be lounged, it may be well to continue the use of the cavesson for a day or two after the operation has ceased, putting in hand-reins for that purpose, so that the animal may be gradually accustomed to the snaffle; but it is a great mistake to continue its use for any length of time in this way, because the horse learns thereby to lean into the rider's hand, which is what should be avoided from the very commencement. When used for the above purpose, the cavesson should have its nosepiece buckled just low enough to rest on the point of the nose just above where the cartilage joins the bone, but particular care must be taken to prevent the cheek-straps injuring the eyes, which they are very liable to do.

Of all instruments employed in the handling, riding, or driving of horses, the common smooth snaffle is by far

the best and most generally useful; it is that by means of which the highest results can be obtained, whilst, on the other hand, less mischief can be done with it than with any other. There are some few riders whose seat is so firm and hand so delicate that they can venture on putting a curb-bit at once into a horse's mouth, but these are rare exceptions; and although, in former times, it was the custom to bit and curb the cavalry remount at once and send it to its work, especially in war time, this system, which produced almost as many restive horses as all other causes put together, has been finally abandoned everywhere, except amongst the Orientals, and the greater part of the handling is now done on the snaffle.

The great value of the snaffle is, that by its use the horse acquires confidence and insight into the means by which the rider proposes to direct its motions, and that it willingly assumes a steady and regular feeling, the action of the mouthpiece being gentle and capable of gradation; and, in consequence of its acting on nearly the same part of the mouth as the curb-bit, it becomes a much better preparative for the latter than the cavesson can ever be, whilst it can never act in so violent a manner as either the one or the other.

It is precisely for this reason that the simplest form of snaffle-neither too long, too thin, nor too much curved, and with only one joint in the middle-is the best; but as there is no end of fancy and prejudice about various kinds of snaffles, it will be perhaps well to see into the real effect of some of those varieties of form and dimension that are so much relied on by the knowing ones. If the snaffle mouthpiece were simply two straight pieces of iron of equal thickness through

out, jointed together in the middle, its whole pressure would, with most horses, come to act on the tongue exclusively, and, the base of the mouth remaining untouched, there would be therefore scarcely any action. To avoid this inconvenience, it is usual to make each half of the mouthpiece thicker towards the cheeks, and tapering off finer to the joint connecting them, by which means a portion of the pressure is transferred from the tongue to the bars; and, in addition to this, they may be slightly curved, which has the same effect. Let us suppose the length of such a snaffle to be just sufficient to allow the cheek-rings to come clear of the lips on either side, and we shall have nearly the whole action of the instrument exerted in the same direction as the pull on the reins,—a matter of no small importance, because it is the only true basis for an understanding between the horse's mouth and the rider's hand.

We may make our snaffle very thin in the centre, and very thick on each side, but we scarcely gain anything in power by so doing, because, although a greater amount of action is transferred from the tongue to the bars, the thick portion of the iron acting on the latter produces very little impression; this variety of form might, however, prove useful with a slight-built horse having a very thick tongue.

Another plan is, to leave the thickness of the iron unaltered, but increase the curvature; or to increase the length of the whole snaffle, so that it projects an inch or more at each side. Now either of these plans will, no doubt, increase the painful action on the bars; the latter especially, much practised by Irish horsebreakers, if exaggerated, will convert the snaffle into an instrument of torture; but the result of this in

creased action is in a wrong direction-it ceases to be a fore-and-aft pull, and is converted into a pincer-like twitch on the lower jaw, which becomes so painful that the horse tries to get the mouthpiece on his teeth, which is usually resented by sawing, restiveness being the most common result.

Some riders have recourse to a double-jointed snaffle, others again to a double mouthpiece, the joints being placed right and left of the centre ; but these two forms produce the pincer-like twitch, and. are therefore to be avoided if possible.

There is one abomination that cannot be sufficiently reprobated-namely, a snaffle twisted on one side and plain on the other, the pretence for using it being, that the horse is hard-mouthed on one side. Now it has been already pointed out that this disinclination to turn to one side is sometimes produced by a swollen gland under the jaw, or by a narrowness of the jaws themselves; and when anything of this kind is the cause, it is evidently pure brutality to apply sheer force. But many horses dislike turning to the right, for instance-where no local impediment of this kind exists; and here it will be found, that circling in trot on the right hand, first of all very wide, and gradually narrowing in, the rider's right hand directing the pull of its rein towards the horse's left hind leg, whilst his left hand keeps the horse's head and neck up to the proper position, is a much more certain and also humane mode of attaining the end for which ignorant riders employ the one-sided twisted snaffle.

A snaffle twisted on both sides is a much less objectionable instrument, and may be safely used by a welltempered and judicious rider who has a firm seat; it