T H E B RIDLE BIT S .

A TREATI S E ON

AL HO R S EMA HIP PRACT IC NS .

BY

B T T E C O L O . R . J . A S B Y , “ LAT E F I R ST NE W YO R $ ( L I NC O LN) C A V A LRY ( T H E G A LLANT F I R ST NE W YOR$ ' ’ C U TE R D I VI I O N A N C R P A R N N A H E R ID O MY O F T HE HE A D O AH U s . . S S S , S S S , S ,

I L L U S T R A T E D

N E W' Y O R $ ’ P T DD D V ID J DD RE S , W. U O . J U C O . , A ,

%I B R O A D W A Y .

1 8 8 6 . En te e a di n to Ac t O f C n e ss i n th e e a 1 886 b th e r d , ccor g o gr , y r , y

0 . J UD D C O . ,

In th e O ffi e O f th e Li bra rm n 0 1 C n e ss a t Wa sh i n t n . c o gr , g o ’ E PUBLIS HERS PREF AC .

A long and varied experience with horses, in both d civil and military capacities in ifferent countries, gives Colonel Battersby the ability to be o f essential service bo th to th e horse and to his owner in this volume . The n o t o n o n treatise is bits alone, but breaking and training horses for every use to which they are respectively adapt e d n b e , particularly to their use u der the saddle and fore the carriage . The important part played by the n bit in its various forms in re dering the horse the docile, ’ willing servant he is , in promoting man s profit and h t e . pleasure , leads to the adoption of title of the book It c o n si d is at once specific and comprehensive . Tender cration and respect for the horse is the impression the n — author makes and i culcates that by proper mouthing , n traini g, use and treatment he can be made all the more a t serviceable, and the same time more agreeable to his rider or driver in the performance of his work . The position Colonel Battersby had as Assistan t In d ’ spector General in Sheri an s Cavalry Corps , and under the gallant Custer and his ever successful commander, is a guarantee that he may be considered authority o n what he says regarding cavalry bits and bridles . The charac te ri sti c s of a large n umber of$ the animals used as carriage horses , as depicted by the author, together with his clear explanations as to the style to be sought and the method b to secure it, are well worthy the attention of reeders, while no horseman can peruse the volume without profit to himself and essential benefit to the noble animal in W hose interest the book is largely written .

N C O N T E T S .

INTR OD UC TION

CHAPTE R I .

H S E A S HIP AND AININ —Tll e uth i n Bi t i s t D e e OR M N TR G . Mo g ; F r gr e S e co n d Le s s o n i n Tra i n i n g ; Ha n dli n g R e i n ; Wi ld a n d Ta m e d Horse s ; Th e S a ddl e -Hors e ; S te ps a n d Moti o n s ; S n a fii e Bi t ; ’ a t u e Art a n d S i e n e Di ff e e n e i n H se s de a s n s t u o N r , c c r c or I ; I r ’ t s E l or rrors i n Pri n ci p e .

HA I C PTE R I .

ENGL IS H V S IRIS H m m — f E n li sh a n d i sh S a ddl . E a Portra i ts o g Ir e Ho rs e s ; Con di ti on O f th e Ri de r ; Horse - l e a p C h u rch ; Ju m pi n g t h e Ba u re n e Top pi n g th e Wa l l Th e Pou n d Wa ll ; Th e U s e o f t h e E a rs ; Usi ng th e Hors e a s a Wa tch ; Ha bi t s ; In te lli ge n c e o f th e Mu l e ; S i gn s o f Good a n d Ba d Horse s f o r th e S a ddl e ; L e a di ng Hors e s Th e Pe lh a m Bi t 35

HA E III C PT R .

THE BIT-AND - I D N F O R S AD D LE -H S E S — b BR OO OR . Th e Cu r ; Th e Ma r ti nga l e 53

HA E I C PT R V. THE A AL I — C V RY B T Mo un te d Poli ce ; Mo u nte d Pol i c e Bi t ; F i n ge r h e i n i ng t Re s . 60

HA E C PT R V .

TH E A A BIT -AND - ID O —Th C V LRY BR O N . e Bri doo n Bi t i n Ac ti o n ; C a v — — a i ry Ch a rge Poi nt t o th e F ro n t C ut to th e Re a r ; Fore i gn or E a s te rn Bi ts 64

HA E I C PT R V . A ALR O R M I LITA Y BIT C V Y R .

HA E C PT R VII . ME$ ICAN RING BIT

HA E C PT R VIII . EAS TE RN HORS E S

HA E I$ C PT R . — LE I Th e D nk e Bi t . . THE MU B T. o y (7) 8 CONTENTS .

C HAPTER X .

DR IV ING ITS —Th e i d n Bi t w i th i n s o tra i ts o f S a ddl e B Br oo R g ; P r , s e s Ca rri a ge a n d D ra f t Hor .

HA E $ I C PT R . THE BRI D OON BIT WITH HALF GUARD S

HA E $ II C PT R .

IT I TH D LE I T AND HALF G A D — m BRID OO N B W OUB JO N E R S . Co m o n ‘ S na fii e Bi t ; Pla i n S n a fii e

HA E C PT R XIII .

- E D AF E BI T —a n h THE DOUBLE JOINT S N FL . P t ogra p S n a tfle ; D o ubl e Ba rre d S na ffle i n Use ; Do u bly S e ve re ; Wi re S n a fii e Bi t

HA E $ I C PT R V .

— x u THE BAR BIT Pa ck i ng Bo B ggy .

HA E $ V C PT R .

I TS S T AI HT AND E D ITH I E P L S LI D E —P BAR . O S i B , R G CURV , W L V R OO ti o n s i n R unn i n g ; S tra i gh t-Ja ck e t ; Norm a n S ta l li o ns ; Con tra di cti on s

HA E $ V I C PT R . C ARR IAGE BAR BIT W ITH C UR B AND BEARING RE I N

HA E C PT R XVII.

THE IA E BIT-AND -B ID —O e a ti n o f th e i l CAR R G R OON . p r o Br doon S ty e v s i n a n h k e i n A a n n n . Br d oo d C e c R b do e d O cc up a t O f th e C a r ri a ge ; Pa ssi n g i n R e vi e w ; Je w e l ry O f th e Tu rn ou t ; Bre e di n g f o r t h e a i a e a t e d n o t a t h e d H se s S e ll i n Ill C rr g ; M , M c or ; g

a t h e d e a m s S m a ll Pe r e n t. O f a i a e H s e s H s e s M c T ; C C rr g or ; or , Ca rri a ge s a n d Ha rn e s s S t ock t o Br e e d Fro m Fly i n g Ch i l de r s Bre e di ng th e Wro n g Wa y ; NO S ty l e or Gra c e i n S h ort -L e gge d Ho r h e a i a e H e se s ; T C rr g ors .

HA E C PT R XVIII . T HE US E O F BLIND S O N HORS E S

HA E $ I$ C PT R . FE E D ING

HA E $ $ C PT R . NO W A WORD T O THE CAVALRY M AN

HA E $ $ I C PT R . S OME UNNEC E S S ARY TORTURE S BR I DLE BITS T HE .

Be e n o t a s th h rse a n d m ul e wh i h h a ve n o n u y e o , c de rst a n di n h o se m o u th m u st b e h e l d i n wi th b i t a n d g, W ” b i dl e r .

I N T R O D U C T I O N .

Of all the instruments in general everyday use the most indispensable and the most universally employed in all f o r the great operations of life, both pleasure and profit t in every land , is the bridle bit . Apar from the farm , - h i t t truck, cart and car horse , it is leas understood and m ost abused in all its secret and variou s practical a p plications of any instrument used . If mechanics must serve their time to learn to handle the tools used in h ? t eir trades, why not the equestrian Yet there is no implement in such general u se o f which the dic ti o na ri e s e n c l c l o e di a s n and y p are so eglectful, and in ’ some respects silent , as this . While Webster s diction ary explains and illust rates nearly everythi ng from a to needle an anchor, from an elephant to a mouse , and from a condor to a tomtit, it neglects to illustrate a o n e n o l o f bridle bit, and cyclopedia gives exp anation $ ffl b a r the terms sna e bit, bit, bridoon bit, Pelham bit, r ma tingale, bearing rein , rein , saddle, bridle, harness, i t . e c . , etc . , but gnores them altogether ro It is therefore , no wonder that a general ignorance p ( 9) THE D E S 1 0 BRI L BIT .

c vails of a theoretical , as well as a pra tical knowledge of i n th e horsemanship , when the instruments employed first principles of its arts are repudiated by a prete nded d repository of general knowle ge , and the people thus left to the stable -boy instead of the library for informatio n o th i ts o n the subject . The bit has a wide field in b i general use and its indiv dual operations which , in the ’ saddle horse s mouth , is or should be magical . Every horse we see employed has a bit in his mou th ; every race is lost and won with the bit , and under its manage ment millions o f dollars a year change hands . The utmost art of the maker of fancy iron jewelry is t o f cen ered in the bit and its appendages , every stylish equipage . The bit plays its part in all the equine feats, interests and operations in every land, whether civilized a n d or barbaric, in both peace and war, in the truck, cart, car and agricultural interests it plays its most humble yet i n t . importan part While war, a nation might as well lay down its arms as to relinquish the bit . o f Aside from the use bits in the mercantile world, in the ’ quartermaster general s department of the army m illions o f dollars were spent for bits alone during o ur late re f bellion . There were employed in the cavalry branch o o u r gallant army horses . Every horse had two a n d o f bits assigned him , without counting the renewal the supply after the ordinary losses in war, this number alone will su ffice to S how the demand there was for a sup ply for that single arm of the service, in which at the present time there are only bits supposed to be in actual daily use . Outside o f this number which is used only with the saddle, the demand for other branches of the service and a in civil life, is beyond an exact calculation , but an p proximate number and value may be guessed at when we consider that there are thirteen millions and eighty- four thousand horses and mules in the United O O 1 1 INTR DUCTI N.

t i u se re States and Terri or es ; and , as every animal in a o f quires bit, we may allow that animals are i b employed, and that th s number of its is in actual daily i n use, while the surplus every stable would cover the whole o f i n number horses the country, and if the average price o f 5 0 t be allowed fifty ( ) cen s, we have a trade value in bridle bits alone amounting, at a low estimate, to against worth o f horse and mule

t 1 883 . flesh subservien to the bridle bit, in To S how how little the saddle and harness were used in New York City some thirty years ago com pared with the present time, there were only two harness stores in the ’ city where a first - class outfit for a gentleman s stable e s l i h m n t a b s e t could be procured . These were Wood Gib ’ n o f son , cor er Broadway and Fulton street, and Trainer s, corner o f Broadway and White street . -The open ing o f the Central Park gave a stimulus to both riding and driving but while the latter has made S t o gigantic strides , the former advanced lowly up within r t wo n i a year o . Whe it will end is uncerta n for in the United States the cust om is to run a thing int o the n u se grou d , and when it becomes vulgar from common , f it becomes un ashionable and is then dropped altogether . o f Then great sacrifices are made in the sale the material . The only branch of eq uestrian amusements that we may really expect to see last, is one in which money is to n be made . We hope, however, that the fashion for ridi g will last until stockmen begin to feel a regular demand t for saddle horses , and that they will breed up to the s yle i n requ red . At present it is ridiculous to compare the a i m a l s $ h , for bot saddle and harness, with the advertise ments vaunting their “ superi or qualities ” when they

'

a . are offered for s le Now, however, that hunting, n - a o raci g , steeple chasing and other sports and amateur c o m pl i sh m e n t s in t h e saddle have become so general as a means of enjoyment, and a taste for everything equine is TH E D E BITS 1 2 BRI L .

c d n e c e s being ultivated and eveloped in both sexes, it is sary to study and practice the art a n d science o f horse S O manship, long as the mania lasts otherwise the pros e c t th e o f e n th u p of broken necks, as result unskilled si a sts r e n de r th e in equestrian performances, are likely to amusement and criticism of spectators anything but agreeable to the riders . There is general ignorance in this country in regard to the respective uses of the great variety of bits , as well as in regard to the proper way of h olding and fingering the n m reins, the delicate use of the bit and the ma age ent of n the horse . The conseque t uncertainty of perform ance is inevitable wi th m e n who bravely try to imitate a kind of n o t n horsemanship to which they were trai ed in youth , o wing o f course to a want of place and opportunity and general daily practice in the field . Heretofore practical horsemanship had bee n little known in our more Eastern States having fair roads we preferred the buggy to the saddle, but in consequence of equestrian tastes acquired in the late war by the enor o f t mous body cavalry tha the emergency created, ama t e u r riding is now more practiced as an amusement than as a necessity . There is raw material in the young people t S of both sexes in the Sou hern tates, of which excellent ” riders are m ade . A country life and dirt roads in the interior require the daily use o f the saddle as a means o f t intercommunica ion , and this has necessitated horseman ship a n d given an excellent seat to many whose train ing and skill have developed with their years . Forty years ago a clerk in a New York counting- house would have been reprimanded by his employer, and run the risk of dismissal , if he were known to keep a hors e . h Times , however, ave changed and with them many t n o w desp o ic restrictions and fanatical ideas , and clubs f o r every game, accomplishment and amusement that tend to develop the muscle and the mind exist and are being T O D U T IN R C IO N . 1 3

“D openly organized . andy Marks was the observed of all

observers, when some forty years ago he used to drive down h i - Broadway in s tilbury and bob tailed tandem . In this enjoyment he had the Ne w York City field to himself with o f D u o f the exception octor H gh Caldwell , peninsular d h o w . war fame, who knew to sit and rive No w that the game of polo calls for the small , active r d n ho se, powerful bit, and elicate and skillful handli g in S sudden stops and hort turns , we can fancy the dexterous use that was made o f the bit in Olden times when h and to hand enco un ters were common between tilting knights h and champions of rival armies , who were jealous of eac ’ other s prowess, and whose honor, valor and fame were decided by the address, skill and gallantry of the respective contestants in the fight . With what ancestral pride can the Lords and C o m h mons of the Britis Isles , at the present time, point to th e - n rusting armor, the blood stai ed spear, the iron S w - S gauntlet, the ord and sabre tache, the pur, battle t - axe and breas plate, the armorial bearings and crests awarded for gallant deeds , the antique saddle, the fancy - t h e shabrack, the weather beaten bandoleer, costly d bri le, and the gorgeous bit that are handed down from o f Ol d warriors . Their skillful use decided the transient n v fates of ations, made kings and emperors , and o er t d hrew and established thrones and y nasties, with their S w frequent invasions, their terror and their ay ; now they t rest in the silent and majes ic dignity of victorious death , as material evidences Of the tr uth of the history that they made . Apparently conscious of their own renown , d they prove to the sceptical mind, whose preju iced r a f thoughts , mingled with silent admi ation and f e c te d t n e w S o f n scorn to sui the tate thi gs that, through the events which followed in the wake o f bloody e xte rm i n a ti n O' onslaughts and wars , waged by their dex te ro us - and incessant use, the Anglo Saxon race is free, 4 THE D E 1 BRI L BITS . a n d that the titles and escutcheons that they gained for i the r gallant lords, and which are secured by patents t o royal succeeding generations, are no empty heirlooms to be lost in the lapse of time, or battled for again . n o w Their work is done , and they hang in the dust and w cob ebs of ancient halls , and the nooks and corners of castles that they won . These very cas tles gave S helter ff to sovereigns and subjects, generals and glittering sta s, n a n d obles in armor, assembled armies, brilliant gather ings of the beautiful and admiring fair. All this con tributed to the pride and power that followed in the train o f - the war horse and the bit, and the independence of a great and a mighty empire . It is therefore to the study and practical knowledge of a m the speci l uses of the ore modern bits , in these days of more peaceful pursuits in private life, that we invite the attention o f the would - b e horsemen who have taste and talents for equestrian enjoyments . We cannot refer to history without being remin ded of triumphan t entries of v ast armies ret urnin g from foreig n t n wars to cities and capitals of their respec ive ations, d heade by their leaders, be they sovereign or subject, ” m h ounted on chargers of high and lofty mien, c amp d ing on their bits ripping with foam, while the tinseled and dazzlin g bridl es of scarlet and gold shivered in the ’ to w o f th e breeze, the onder of the vulgar and the envy great . n The bit long si ce established its virtues, both in peace and war, and it is still called upon in a figurative way to ’ adorn the painter s can vas by throwing the Arab s teed r t into all the graceful attitudes portrayed by a . Here we see pictured in all the shades and b rilliant coloring of

- semi barbarous tribes , the Arab chief , the Eastern prince, o f Do n the Cossack the , the nimble Circassian and the u Spanish grandee, mounted pon horses to match their t o f respec ive spheres . The bridles, of various degrees 1 INTROD UCTIO N . 5

h costliness , that dangle from t eir bits are adorned with n l gold and silver orname ts, costly jewe s and delicate h o f n workmans ip, which not o ly the rider but the horse seems proud, and , while wondering at its power and romantic history , we grant the bit the symbolic palm . Under the restrain t of the bit “ the horse paweth in the valley a n d rejoiceth in his strength h e goeth on to m eet the armed m e n he mocketh at fear and is not a f frighted, neither turneth be back from the sword ; the t n quiver rat leth against him, the quiveri g spear and the ” S hield . Thus anterior to and since the days of Xenophon O n the plains of Babylon , vast legions of men from remote ages have been man oeuvred and led by generals and mon n n o f archs , who held the bit in one ha d and the desti ies nations in the other .

Em i r e s a n d n a ti o n s ri se de c a n d f ll p , ay a , Bu t sti l l th e bi t sur vi v e s a n d r l e s a n d c n e s l u o qu r a l . F i 1 —M THIN B I T g. . OU G .

C H A P T E R I .

HO RS EMANS HIP AND TRAINING .

Before proceeding with our subject it m a y be well to n c a n defi e the words horseman and rider, so that we bet ter understand their true definitions . The word horse m a n i h , its original and proper sense, is the term used to denote thorough S kill in the kno wledge and management of the horse under the saddle , while the word rider is applied to a man on horseback, and whose S kill is described by th e prefix good or bad . But at the present time in the United States the word horseman is applied to a man who c a n ride a horse o n fifty or a hundred miles the stretch , or until he drops

u . dead while the rider s rvives To a man who likes , i dr fanc es, sells , buys , cleans, ives, trades or spends his h time or money wit horses , while he may have no dispo ’ i o r o n s t d s tiou ability to get a horse back , his slang wor , ” i s m horseman , applied . The ter s horseman and rider n f o r are equivalent to the words musicia and player , while any number of people can play, but a small per o f h centage them are musicians . It is unfortunate t at S the word horseman , like the word city, hould take such ( 1 6)

1 8 THE D E BRI L BITS .

d - i hea stall and two reins , and is therefore double re ned . But b ri dl e w the ith two bits , two headstalls and two reins , like the bit and bridoon, is a double bridle in l three respects . It is customary to ca l th e bit and b r i doon a double - reined bridle but as i t has three distinct sets we con sider it a double bridle . In referring t o the bits or bridles we will designate a s each name or number, may be convenient . These o f are the great and ordinary bits the world, and i f h although they are used in d f erent ways, bot double t t o and single , and addi ions are made render them t stronger, more secure or ornamental , to sui the fancy n and special cases , they all a swer the same purpose, that of controlling the horse according to his peculiar dispo sitiou and the service required of him . As a general rule, horses that require bits of extraordinary power or t a o r severity are ei her n turally vicious headstrong , or t h e ; were spoiled in breaking, latter being the most pro li fic cause . As we cannot satisfactorily describe a bit withou t de ff scribing its peculiar uses and e ects upon the horse, we ll u i must a de to training, rid ng, driving and horseman th e i n ship , and advantages Of skill and proficiency dl l Wi han ing the reins, and sha l begin th

TH E M O U H BI T T ING .

This is the first and only bit that S hould be used with ’ a you n g horse during his first year s training or breaking th e d into the use of bit, in any shape for riding or riving, o r h e to th e until is put his future employment, be that i n s saddle o r h arness . In breaking a young hor e the evi l most to be feared is the chafing o r cutting o f the corners of h i s mouth by the pressure of a h a d h i t bad

. bi t for the purpose of mouthing The regular mouthing , o n 1 6 - s n a fiil e represented page , is a large sized, clumsy , t t t h with o n e join in the center be ween e ba rs . The bars H O RS E MA NS H IP AND TRAINING . 1 9 are a n inch thick at the guards and taper S lightly to th e O f joint, from which a flat oval plate steel about an inch n d o r t wo a a quarter so long is suspended by small rings, and from three holes in the lower edge o f the plate three iron tags hang . The Operation s of this bit are as follows Th e thic k h e o f bars , at the guards , is w ere they press the corn rs c ut the mouth , and being large they are not so apt to and chafe the mouth as small bars are , for by constant chafing and breaking of the skin at the tender and bare m o n th i t a n d part of the becomes callous, the horse is apt to ignore the gentle pull of th e reins ; and by the ’ o f driver s getting in the habit pulling at the bit, he i h mself becomes a puller by degrees , thinking that that is what his driver wants him to do, for horses are Often w m n n h o w puzzled to kno what we ea , and to k ow to use the bi t S O as to reach their understanding is th e result of n theory and practice . The tags upo the oval plate hang ’ upon and tickle the horse s tongue, and thus keep him h i t a n d pla y ing with the , his mouth in motion himself on the move . The guards are double and long to prevent the o f w possibility dra ing the bit through the mouth, and t hus giving the horse an advantage in a struggle with his trainer . The rings a re large to admit of S trong headstall and reins, which are buckled on, and are so adjusted as to be just long e n ough to reach and fasten o n to th e surci n gle when the horse’s head is in its mos t natural and easy position . The reins should be fastened to the surcingle, so as to pull straight and square for this purpose if the n o t S u reins are so made , a knot ho ld be tied on the loop

Of the reins and the loop, being exactly in the centre, o n th e o f th e fastened to the terret pad surcingle , so as to ’ keep the horse s head straight to prevent accidents a n d m ensure an evenly made outh and carriage . A crupper is n i ts used to keep the surci gle in place, and especially so S 2 0 TH E BRID LE BIT .

when the rein s are shortened as the mouthing progresses . h a nd In t e future degrees Of mouthing breaking in , in the progress of wh ich we are t o be led o r guided in the man a e m e n t o f g the pupil, when disposition and temper are a d h a s stu y, a well set up horse his mouth on a level with the line of his b a c k but while we cannot chan ge n the natural angle of a eck , we can improve it a little as a t to grace, whatever may be the angle . This is to be h n tended to in the first lessons in mout i g . There is “ ” nothing better calculated to expose the lunk- head than the using of all sorts o f contrivances to make h i m

u - h hold his head up , and th s try to play carriage orse

- with a plow horse .

D E EE FIRS T GR .

The colt is now patted , caressed and turned loose into a yard o r paddock where he can w alk about playin g with his h i t and where he feels disposed to make friends with n any person he can reach by walki g up coaxingly, ex

— E D LE S I N T AI I 2 S C S . i . F g . ON ON R N NG

c ti n pe g or asking, in horse pantomime , to take the thing h o w Off . We can fancy he feels , and how charitably we

l . should fee towards him while he is studying his A, B , C o f In this way he learns to yield to the pressure the bit, and beco m es so sensitive to the least pull o f th e reins that th e motio n of his tail will affect the crupper and h i s communicate the touch through the reins to mouth . n o w t n o t f o r We are making a mou h for a horseman , a e n f o r h i s t mere rider who dep ds on the reins seat . Resis H O E M A S H A D A 2 RS N IP N TR INING . 1 ance to the pull of the rein is what the mouthing bit a n d t hese lessons teach the colt not to try . He is like a — — h e man in a straight jacket can do nothing . All the articles used in the first les son are th e mouthi n g u bit, crupper and s rcingle, and should not be changed d u until the second egree req ires something else . To facilitate th e makin g Of the mouth and Obedience to the fif touch of the reins on this bit, two hard rope lines , n n e tee feet long, with ha dles made of double plaited rop

n ‘ d the thick ess o f a clothes line . These shoul be fastened by spring hooks to the rings of the bit and passed through r t th e the terrets on the surcingle, and the t ainer, aking h t reins in both ands , drive the colt quietly on a bea en k trac that he knows and when used to this , after several f o . lessons, place a number wagons, carts, buggies, etc ,

i 3 —HAND LIN F . . EIN g G R .

a h i m about forty feet part, and drive throu gh th em k fi 8 quietly on a wal , making the gure , right and left AS and back a gain . the colt learns these lessons and t h e u h i s o wn goes through wagons, t rning of accord, place n the wagons closer together, thus making the tur s shorter . When he knows what y o u want him to do h e will like the exercise , and expect to be petted when his daily busi a n d ness is over his head rubbed with a wisp . O f Handles reins are about two feet long , and the reins o n e and a half inch in di ameter and the lines are o n e n half inch in diameter . The cavesson a d l un gs are used in the third and future degrees . m n n t w Ti e, patience, ge tle ess and regulari y ith the use o f these three instrumen ts and the reins are necessary o s to break in and make the mouth what it should be, i l l h e d o f e c a t . p y for sa dle Instead this , most young horses come t o o ur city markets broken in with all kinds o f h a bits frequently with small s rp bits, with which colts H D E 2 2 T E BRI L BITS . — are u sually r i dden by farm boys after the c ows and h a n d o n when put in arness , are at all fast, are trained th e the road to pull the buggy by bit , for which aecom ” pl i sh m e n t they are recommended as smart and ” likely critters . The young horse is thus brought to d n e w the sale stable and sol to a master, when he has to o f undergo the torture submitting to strange voices, hands, feed , place, smells, saddle, harness , work and bit . m But we have him fresh , perhaps , fro the farm yard, a n d the questions are What is he fit for What bit has he been broken with What bit will he bear and go best with ? If he was handled on the farm it is likely he bi t never had a mouthing or cavesson on , and that the man who bred or broke him never used or even saw a o s l u n s w m uthing bit, caves on or g , or would know hat they were f o r if he did see them . These are some O f th e risks we have to run i n selecting a young horse for a special use . A young horse is like a girl he must be tried in harness before we can tell what ’ u I f his f ture will be A girl don t remain what she is .

e she is good , she gets better aft r marriage . If she is bad , n she gets worse . Bad dispositio ed girls seldom reform n with experie ce , and generally get worse and more hate W ful under oppression or coercion, hile many are beyond o f n the reach ki dness . If the colt has been pretty well ’ f o r u se th e broken in , in the farmer s way, general , work do f o r u he is to , and the bit he is to wear the f ture at that u l a n d work , sho ld be judicious y selected put on an O l d -fit ti n and easy g headstall, and if he takes to it and it t d n o r sui s him it should never be change , he from his

- - adopted service . He will not make a saddle horse to day

- - w and a harness horse to morro . His? life is too short to t w o learn any things perfectly, as the means used to train him for one occupation neutralizes his proficiency i n

h m - . i the other If you select for a saddle horse, take care h n Th d - t e o e . e r tha is sa dle horse is c eated, not made . A 2 3 HORS E MANS HIP A ND TR INING .

We may m ake his mouth and teach him to do many t t hings , so that we can use his na ural, mental and physical

u q alifications in teaching him accomplishments , and to n h i s r b u t look upo his rider as f iend and companion ; , while t h ese are natural under proper treatment in this wa s - peculiar service, he a saddle horse before he was n o t u o n e o foaled . If , he never co ld be made , alth ugh he could be used a n d tortured as a riding horse but he ’ don t fill the bill . In dwelling o n the term saddle -h orse we do so to i m press the reader with the idea that he is a peculi ar speci i s o f men of the species . He the embodiment all that is i n — i n e great and grand the equine nature his bre ding, shape, figure, symmetry, quality, muscle, bone, dura b i li t y , mettle, endurance , temper, disposition , instincts, to style, action , intellect and pluck, all Of which require o f d l be the first or er, for he has many things to earn in l the space of some five years, when he must be ab e to s f master his profe sion be ore he gets too stiff to please, Ye t t a ll and to take things as they come . , wi h the above n o t t qualities , he may be unsound and wor h a rap . But i f he possess all the qualities we seek, and it is intended w we shall require in him, no onder he is associated with angels and chariots in heaven , as represented in many n parts of the Bible, and especially in Revelatio s . His a n d t i work is so varied , at times so complica ed , that, fa l In In g respect to one qualification , he would be sure to fail in some performance at, perhaps , a critical moment o n when life or death, loss or gain, depended his per f c ti o n e in one point and performance there with . When we n - o r l occasio ally see a born saddle horse, the materia ' o n e w for , we follo him with a covetous eye, and wonder if he ever went to school and if his o wner knows what he s h a got . da s t But , apart from a y with the fox or ag hounds, the

- f o r saddle horse, mere pleasure in the less arduous duties 4 TH E D E 2 BRI L BITS . o f - h an ordinary riding horse, should ave all the above l d qua ities, which , although undevelope , give him the ' m oral a n d ph y si c a l aptitude for pleasure and general ser v th e d d f o r th e ice under sa dle , as well as the usual esire c ompanion ship o f his rider and ready obedi ence to his w d - ff ill . The sad le horse is di erent from the racer, which i s n bred, kept and used as a racer alone, the o ly object in n d a h i m breeding a tr ining being speed . The latter is e arning his living under the pig- ski n before the saddle horse is taken in hand to mouth and train , or is even k t bac ed . If for y years ago our fancy time was and by m ere breeding and t raining f o r trotting alone we have come down to wh at wonderful feats are pos sible for the saddle -horse which has all the n ecessary qualities and a l l required advantages in t raining for

- i f both the trotter and steeple chaser, he be properly d n t . bit e , mouthed , trai ed and ridden For if the six t e e n th of a second makes the difference between victory i n ff and defeat trotting, what a di erence there must be between the certainty and uncertainty of the perform ance of a hunter that is properly and o n e that is i m ’ h o f n e c k properly andled, when the future a man s de pends on that difference I The few accidents that occur ’ r h h un in a winte s unting in the British Isles , with one d a n d w - 1 2 4 o f b o un ds red t enty four ( ) packs , bear ample evidence of th e perfection of the sy stem a dopted in breed ing, training , and the principles and skill practiced in d ri ing, which is the greatest and most perfect of all the di fie re n t kinds o f horsemanship throughout the world ; for the horse a n d his rider must be o f o n e mind in tak ing the chances that , under the most favorable circum f o f c e d i n stances, attend the strain that is upon both n s m a d taki g a leap that, in cool blood , would eem like ness . th d It is an interesting coincidence , at uring the last forty years the reduction of tro tting time has kept pace

D E 2 6 THE BRI L BITS .

fail, and he becomes discouraged after repeated trials . b i n Instead of the est kind of drawing pencil and paper, f e ri o r a n d - paper, perhaps a slide case pencil is given him d e s to raw with and when he tries his b t, with his nose o n t o the paper and his tongue out , he fails represent any thing . Then , when he tells his mother that he can “ i t r . n o t . t do , she says Oh, go on ; y again But I ’ ”

m . can t amma . Well , then go to bed This is sense

- vs . instinct . The time comes in after life when we look back at the useless thin gs that were put into our hands i n while ch ldren, struggli g to learn that which with the ’ very best advantages was a strain upo n the child s p a ti e n c e a n d faculties , and unproductive of any advantage . nf t t This is u ortuna ely often so wi h the young horse . An vth i n g in the shape of a bit o r bridle is thought good enough for a colt . So intelligent an animal as a ’ horse must, like the child , wonder why he can t do what seems perfectly easy when done by others . The fact is n bi t that with an i ferior , a man fails to convey an idea to u a si the colt . We have a q equestrian monument in our ’ d d of o u t r e min s eye , to be erecte to the memory and of l a w spect for Mr . Bergh , for his having procured a to ” protect horses, and that makes assault and battery in ff the stable a penal o ense . But his full measu re of charity for the horse will n ever be exhausted until he l a w o f - t regulates by the width the horse s alls , which are ’ n o w n so arrow that a poor, tired horse can t straighten o u w t his legs when he lies do n . Mr . Bergh himself ’ su fie rs i n knows , perhaps, how he in a night s journey a ’ t o u t s . train , when he can t traigh en his legs There is a very prolific source o f abuse in chucking at ’ the horse s mouth with the reins to make him go on o r i t ste . h p With a severe , this is torture ; with any bit, it s i n is cruelty and wrong under any circumstance , unless s h i s a u a necessary ca e . The horse throws he d p as if to “ ’ ’ S te l— B u t say, p I will I will don t don t the H O E A S H A D A RS M N IP N TR INING . 2 7

heartless savage chucks the more, to punish the horse f o r n d o f , perhaps , a little impatie ce un er the pressure late

hours and an empty stomach that makes a horse , as well ’

. o n e v as a man , impatient We don t believe there is ci il riding master in twenty who instructs h i s pupils in the h t to nature and uses o f t e bits he gives hem handle . Are there a n y Equestrian pupils are left to find o u t and learn u bl i c l from others as best they may, as boys in p schoo s are left t o themsel ves to learn to w rite with out regula r daily

instruction . It is well they are not allowed to take their

C opies home . Why ? In parts of the world where it is con sidered su perfluous

e to devote either time, patienc or kindness in breaking

F i 4 — ILD g . W .

n in you g horses, brute force and cruelty are resorted to n S i and they soo tell on the pir t of the animal , which never recovers from the unnatural treatment and abuse . - o f The Mexican lop cared ass is an evidence this, for o r cruelty is the only word he seems to utter represent,

Au - A o f with a repeated eh ? u . We captured a band wild horses o n the plains o f the Pacific slope in t h e early days h of California, and w ile handling a young , spirited n a t animal , with appropriate co sideration for his surprise n o n d bei g a captive , a Chilian , who was looking , sai , on “ seeing o u r treatment of th e colt $ That is n o t the way ” we break in h orses in Chili . As we were curious to th th e know e course pursued there , we handed him over m d colt to break in according to his Chilian etho . He ’ tied the colt s head, with a lasso, to a tree in his front, 2 8 TH E D E BRI L BITS .

o n e l e i n and tied hind g by the foot to a tree his rear, t h e t S i x o f giving col about feet play both ropes . He now took o ff his jacket (red leath er o f native t a n and a n d b v t i n grease) , taki ng it the collar, bea the horse the a s head , right and left, until he (the Chilian) was tired o f t h e performance as we were at seeing the brutal Chilian

. o u r plan We stood amazed at the process , and although o o i l e d blood with indignation , we resisted the temptation to interfere , for it is by doing wrong that we learn to do wa s n e w right, and as this an experience to us we were l n h wi li g to sacrifice a wild orse to learn from it . The

i 5 — TA I N F g . . M G .

o f result this beating was , as both the Chilian and we m expected , perfectly successful . The colt was ta e beyond n conception from the time he was take from the trees , and gave no fur ther trouble in h andling but his S pirit n h in that short time was broke , as the orse life was taken o u t o f u him forever , and so perfectly subd ed was he that he walked listlessly about with h i s head and ears

e o f o n . down, h edless what went around him o f b u t This , course , was abuse in the extreme , it serves to show that milder acts o f cruelty a n d rough t reatment e i u have proportionat effects , and that a t mid yo ng horse, u l while bridled p in a new position , with his mouth fu l o f o ut o f loose iron annoying him, should be kept the M H D A 2 9 H O RS E ANS IP AN TR INING . hands o f a man who loses temper a n d patience at h i s a w k wardness and unintentional disobedience or mistakes . o t u Besides , s me men wi h the best intentions have pec liar ideas o f what is right ; and as there are men born for l h l every business in ife , those who ave dea ings with the minds and dispositions o f animals should be selected a c to cording principle , and thus the right man put in the l a . right pl ce Yet in the family circle, as wel as in the stable, there are men with furious tempers who are can di da t e s a n d w for love, domestic happiness illing obedi

o f . i t ence all around them . How common is for an n i n e x e inconsiderate , ervous crank to take a young, p ’ r i e n c e d and timid girl at her parents hands to wife , and

— 6 TAMED . F i . g .

h e r w expect to fall into all his ays and pleasures , and i h please h m in all i s whims and fancies . And when she i n t o fails trifling points , she has submit to his irritable s m a n d disposition and allies of te per, thus , before she h a d w h i s has time to kno nature and ways, his likes and

- dislikes, and to learn to comply with a heart felt desire to please , her spirit becomes broken . The strain is o n a n d r put too soon , many a good gi l gets spoiled by a n d i such men, who think the whole art sc ence of pleas ’ m e d ing ust be embodied in th ir wives ispositions , and h o n w . none in t eir The anger, selfishness and unkind treatment o f suc h men are o u t of proportion to the sup r ff posed neglect o o ence . It is unfortunately sometimes o n d h so both si es, w en Greek meets Greek . f o r o u r n But, fortunately equine compa ion, we find th i s 0 TH E BRID LE BITS .

less common in the stable than in the social circle , where the girl o r th e boy at a certain age has some means o f u t defence from und e parental coercion and res raint, but wherever they go they a re apt to carry in their expression that peculiar and unmistakable hang- dog lip and cheek as evidence o f sulk and dissatisfaction incident to c u ffin g n and scolding, forced Obedience, and conseque tly unhappy n homes , like the Mexican ass . Forcing complia ce in r d either man or beast, is done unde protest of the force , a t t every step , ra her than through a spirit of cheerful compliance, fostered by that kind and gentle treatment to which the domestic animal will alw ays yield . The child that is scolded , the dog that is whipped and kicked, wh o the woman has an irritable , nervous crank to please, and the horse that is chucked , are alike ruined in such h i n moulding of t eir tempers and dispos tions . Perso s — thus persecu ted have t wo faces o n e for the house and c u the other for the street . The house fa e prevails, beca se it is most used .

TH E S A DD LE -H O RS E ; If the reader has a fancy for the saddle we would li ke ’ to have him understand that the saddle -horse s mouth n o f is , or should be , very sensitive to the guidi g touch S the reins , while it hould resist the straight pull in being c o m e lifted at the leap . This strain should on the bit from both reins equally, to insure which the reins must o n e if r c be held in only hand , and that the left, assisted, f o r required , by the right or whip hand . The best bit ff this purpose is the plain sna le . Being simple in its operation , it is less apt to confuse a horse than any other i t b . used in riding If held by expert hands , it is not so apt as others to give u n certain signals and cause the h t m n orse to make mis akes at critical mo e ts , when it is ’ o u t o f o r h i s his rider s power to rectify them . The voice o f the rider a n d n o t the bit sho uld have a general T A 3 1 H O RS E MA NS HIP AND R INING .

i n c ontrolling influence, as much so proportion as the balance seat should support the rider in the saddle i h d o f stea the reins, and it is in this that the horseman has the advan tage .

S TE PS AND MOTIO NS .

Every horse has a peculiar step and motion , either easy d h o r rough . Under the sad le they are felt more t an in t so any other ser vice . As the horse is buil are his steps

F i 7 —S AFFLE BI T g . . N .

ti m e n and mo ons , and like those of , they cannot be ma te ri a ll y changed, for the peculiar shape and construction o f the frame naturally creates them ; while the riding and the bi t used may tend to make them better or worse - o f in the horse . The fox trot is the gait a spoiled horse . d o r u This gait is created by bad ri ing , by sing the bit and “ m t bridoon at the sa e time . Wi h this gait it is heads ” o r w h d first— h tails hic gets tire the orse or the rider .

Th e fla t- o f h i s t o e footed man , instead walking from , m n t h i s S walks fro the in er side of his foo step is hort , n o d and having hollow in his foot, he cannot ben it and he consequently picks up h i s foot before his step is quite

. i n s e s finished Horses , the ame way, from eith r ome o r malformation the use of the wrongbit, badly chosen and worse held, have very objectionable gaits and mo 2 THE R D E 3 B I L BITS .

o f tions . We have heard pupils both sexes profess a dis d n f o r like to ri i g , the probable reason that they were put o n such horses to take their firs t lesson s a n d became dis

t A - t - - - gus ed . dog car that goes hop pid de bob would be a h i s bad vehicle to recommend to a novice, if we wanted o f o f n Opinion the pleasure drivi g . A well - proportioned horse has no naturally contracted do motions, and the facility with which he can every u i n thing enco rages him all his performances . He is ’ w d u al ays at his ri er s service with a cheerf l air . He u ff o n sho ld be ridden with a sna le or, if he has a bit - o n and bridoon , ride him in ordinary the bridoon . He t o o ut h i m wants be free , and the curb is of place with o n w except special occasions, hen it serves the double purpose of either showing o ff or gathering him up for a canter .

H E I TATI NG S E S S T P .

The diff erence bet ween the step o f a horse going from o n n his stable and that his returni g to it, is very great . The former is hesitatin g and disagreeable under the sad dl e r , while the latter is most desi able and pleasant to the rider yet both the rider and driver feel the rel u ctan ce h i n th e with which e steps out in the former, while — latter he is like another horse free and easy . A know n l e t ing owner will, for this reaso , his horse be tried by n t the purchaser on his retur to his s able, if he be one of the hesi tating kind .

A U E ART AND S E E . N T R , CI NC

N a n d Ar t u h ature her daughter, , m st unite in the p y

- si c a l and mental training of the saddle horse . When S n t o ready, Art calls in her ister, Scie ce, to her aid enable h e r to perform great o r critical feats by combining the ff e e orts of the thr e, and uniting, with the indispensable

t wo o n e n . power of science , the ideas of heads on thi g

D E T 3 4 TH E BRI L BI S . p e a te d wit h the idea of making the colt fam iliar with the f habit of approaching a fence quietly . The e fect o f this th e l t is, that colt is systematical y rained never to be cer o f t o f tain what he is to do , and as grea exertions the mind and muscle are necessary to take the leap , the colt h e should unmistakably understand, long before nears h d n it, t at his ri er i tends taking it at any risk , so that he m a y prepare in time with both will and muscle - power to gather himself for the bound . A man is n o t physically stronger one m oment than he w is the next, but his will po er is greater, which gives forc e power to his m uscles i n acti on and to have a ’ t horse s mind and spirit prepared for ac ion , is as necessary as to have the body ready and in condi tion and trim for general use and special performances . We know that this h d is so wit ourselves , and horses are flesh and blood, bo y a n d t and mind, as we are , wi h the advantage of peculiar t ins incts , require the same preparation for great physical feats yet h o w many race - horses fail by a len gth that could be made up but for their being the victims of cus toms and fashions which it is not o u r de sign to explain i n this v olume ; Those men who have m eans to indulge in fashions and fancy, are like the cockney who went on a visit amon g country cousins that did all sort s of e xtra o r di

- nary things , which the green horn also did, because everybody di d them and when he hesitated he was urged o n by being told that ga mbling was the custom in the ” t v coun ry, and that e erybody did it . So when he n t lost all his mo ey and re urned to the city, he was d ’ laughed at by his frien s , whom he told that he couldn t d h . t e help it, because everybo y did it If gentlemen who u spend so much time and means on the turf, nderstood a ’ n little more of horse nature and ature s laws , their sec ou ds in the races could be m ade firsts with very little trouble and much less expense . 3 r

S S H D . 0 O E NGLIS H V . IRI RI ING

C H A P T E R I I .

ENGLIS H V S . IRIS H RIDING.

o n At e time , and it may be so still , the English rode with a slack, while the Irish rode with a tight rein . The former generally used the Pelham bit , while the latter l almos t invariab y used the snaffle . If these men changed w horses as they stood, bridles and all, they ould run the f r k f o r risk o b eaking their respective nec s, although each o f horse wore his own bit, the manner holding the rein

a —E LI H i — F . 8 I I S b . S H ( . ) NG . g . ( ) R .

n e w e being to each , the results, as we see in hunting plat s , — might vary the horse in or on one side of the fence and r the ride on the other . Our invariable rule is, never to t o face our horse, young or old, a fence of any kind that o we know he is able to take, without making him g over or through it at the risk of his neck or our own . Any other course is fraught wi th danger on very trifling o c n casio s . Our rule is the best to make a safe and fearless

- h u nter and steeple chaser.

D T O F TH E D C O N I IO N RI ER .

There is no time when the man and horse are safer than — “ when th e rider has had his dram just one horn to h i s . give force to intentions The old hunter knows it , from the dash and wild recklessness of his rider’s manner 6 TH E D E S 3 BRI L BIT .

o f n n and the unmistakable exercise his ha d and k e es. m n o r Unless it is a stea boat, a bar a locomotive, he knows he has got to take it flying and if we can judge a from experience , equestri n feats can be performed under such influence with greater safety than by sober caref ul ness , for confidence is imparted to the horse . He knows k o u t from experience that there is no bac possible, and ’ h i s w n that he can t do ork by halves, eck or nothing being the rule o n th a t day . A few inevitable mistake s a n d falls over, in the early training, make a horse careful s s b in after year , and en ure a clean ound if well ridden , to avoid a repetitio n o f some unfortunate experience on a simila r occasion . It is better to make a bad leap than to spoil the horse by going back to make another charge at it . If he refuses , which is justifiable on some accounts, it may be from some misconception on his part of his rider’s intentions— from the slack of the reins or relaxa — i n d tion of the knees that the r der cha ged his min , or he may have found that his s tride i n approaching the fence at a canter would take him either too far from or t o o t near the fence , and consequently refused , fearing a cer ain ’ o n . fall or fall over But this is the rider s lookout, as he S should be master of the ituation . His rider, however, w a n d if a horseman , kno s the cause , taking him to it It n again , squarely , goes over flyi g . In such possible o f complications in the heat and excitement the moment, b o u n ds i n o r when the are full cry, the snaffle, the Pel u o u n n ham , sed the s affle, are the only ridi g bits proper o n to use those occasions .

H - E A C C H O RS E L P H U R . t In Coun y West Meath , Ireland, there is a church ” - near $ ilbeggan called Horse leap Church . It takes its name from a great leap that was made by a horse while o u t u i b o u n ds ba u re n e n r h nt ng with the , over a ( ar ow h road) o n either S ide of whic there is a stone wall . The E S H vs . S H D NGLI IRI RI ING . 3 7

fo r t baurene is wide enough a car to pass over . The n horse took both walls and road in one leap , thus cleari g to all from field field . Although we have seen the leap, we are n o t prepared to give heights and distances ; b ut two walls and a road will give an idea of the nature o f

i 9 —H E-LE AP H F . S CH C . g . OR UR the feat . For practical purposes the walls would be at l least three feet high and the road twe ve feet wide . In ordinary stone -wall jumping the horse should break o ff the same distance from the base that the wall is h igh to ins ure a safe and flying leap ; but in such a leap as th at referred to he should break off at least five feet from th e base of the wall to describe a segment o f a circle sufii i e ntl h c y hig to take him over the secon d wall . On

5 “ 2 ” 12 F T — F i . l o J UMPING THE A ENE . g . B UR

approac hing high walls and oth er big fences the trained hunter is given to understand that a l eap is before h i m and that he is to take it . The rider in the above case rode for both walls and the horse knew it . This was no THE D E 3 8 BRI L BITS .

n cha ce leap both intended it, else it could not have i s n been done . The safest riding in taki g the country ” as it comes , unsight , unseen neck or nothing . By t this, the horse is inspired wi h confidence ; knowing that h e must take what comes, he takes equal chances with a bold and fearless horseman, who must be an expert rider n u — f o r to e s re success there are some leaps, such as a foss m a n wall , that a mistake would render deadly to either — d m or horse but luck, on which many depen , is so etimes friendly to the uninitiated . However, riding up to a i f o f wall to see there is a ditch , pile stones, cow, flock of S o n heep, or a pile of fence rails the other side, would spoil the best hun ter in the world .

TO PPING T HE W ALL .

What is termed “ topping a wall is by the horse strik ing the wall with his hind feet to send him with renewed effort or spring beyond some object on the other side that

1 1 —T PPIN THE ALL F i g . . O G W . he did not see till half over, and to do which he had not used power en ough i n his s pring when he rose . This is considered very superior trainin g . It is the work of the a n h snaffle bit, and could not be done with y other bit wit any degree o f certainty . The very pretty performances of horses i n a circu s are done under the influence of con stant training where the feats are to take place . The t h e same man has horse alone , and being perfectly docile and tractable , in cool blood and under strict obedience, n t and when there is o danger or excitemen , the object E S H vs . S H D NGLI IRI RI ING . 3 9

f O the training is reduced to a certainty . If we contrast this state o f things with th e condition of a horse tearing — across a rough country for miles meeting fences and a n d rivers he never saw before, one field plowed all mud , — the other all stones and the fence between a double — ditch or deer- park wall the horse winded by the heavy cante r in t h e mud a n d a fence to lea ve behind h i m o r b h t flounder at its ase, he will perceive t at it is nice rain ing to unite two minds and two bodies at the same moment to accomplish these deeds that nature has left No t to the horse alone to perform . o her animal can do

- n i t and carry one seventh of his o w weight . In training horses for t h e saddle for hunting and

steeple chasing purposes , it is necessary to do so in the to region where they are spend their future career, so that they shall be familia r with the peculiarities of th e

F i 1 2 —THE P LL . ND A g . OU W .

th e o f n fences and nature the country, thus i suring their ’ own and their rider s necks . Owing to the nature of the Ga l country the way horse is a famous wall jumper . The favorite place for the sale o f these hunters is at th e fair o f h Ballinasloe . T ere is , next to the fair green , a cattle d o f w poun , the paved yard which is lo er by some eighteen inches than the ground outside . If a m a n wa n ts to sell c a n his hunter, he is asked if he jump the pound wall . w If he can , he ill be able to sell his horse, all other points being satisfactory . If he jumps in , it is understood that i o u t n the jump ng is the ecessary test to insure the sale . d Hun reds gather around to see the performance . Four si x feet in , five feet inches out, sells the horse . The jump 40 TH E BRID LE BITS .

d is off a cobblestone yar . If the horse fails and his rider o u t th e k is obliged to come by gate, he pays the eeper h regular poundage, and gets laug ed at for his failure , besides losing the sale . Some sales are made condition — so i f S O i ally much he jumps in , and much if he fa ls to jump out . The recent performances o f the horses Leo and Lord - o f

- i n the Isles at the horse shows Madison Square Garden , Ne w t York, es ablished the fact of the great mental and physical powers and capacity of the horse in everything to which he is properly bred and trained . We have heard of and seen horses take wonderful leaps over rivers ,

i t - o f a nd dra ns, double di ches , and deer park walls lime stone , coped on top and some having broken glass bottles t sunk in the mor ar while wet, all varying in width and h f m i eight ro twenty to th rty feet, and from five to eight feet ; but these feats were done in open daylight in the u n field , and nder the influence of the greatest exciteme t, w hen both horse and ride r were tea ring away in competi tion with others i n mad pursuit of some fair opportunity to accomplish a deed that would henceforth mark a period in the extraordinary feats of both horse and horse

- o f - - manship . But to keep a horse like Lord the Isles tied U - p for days in a four foot stall, with but little exercise i and that under cover , and then to bring him out at n ght, mount and ride him by the glare of electric lights at a — six - foot - six - inch bar fen ce and clear i t h e weighi n g pounds and his ri der 1 45 pounds— is a performance h th e m a t at equine world y well wonder at, and Mr. h i s o f Primrose, owner, be proud . The horse was rid de n a sn a fll e with heavy bit, and , besides the weight of th e d h e o f ri er, carried that the saddle, thus making about 1 6 0 n o t n — pounds, includi g the shoes say in all d t m poun s . The gallan Leo performed the sa e feat, in the same place and at the same hour, the year before .

2 THE D E BRI L BITS .

h r ea so well, so he throws it back to keep the rain from ’ getting into it . The normal position o f the horse s c a r s when he is inactive is thrown backward , but when he is at h n work it varies wit circumstances . Whe active , or ex e c ti n n p g orders, it is vertical ; whe he is cross it is also t o thrown back , and when listening , or looking the front,

. . 1 3 1 2 3 n it is thrown forward (See fig , cuts , , , Whe the saddle - horse is in action he listens attentively to the

1 ITI NS O F E A F i . 3 P S S . g . O O R ’ t o f leas sound his rider s voice, which he expects to hear, and therefore by givi ng him the habit of listeni ng to and b o eying the voice, the use of the bit is reduced to a

minimum .

S TH E H O S E A A A H U ING R S W TC .

n The horse in his natural state, whe roaming in wild bands o ver vast plains and through the foot hills o f great n n o f mountai ra ges, makes a different use his ears to — what he does when domesticated c o n fin e d and worked where all his wild feelings and natural propensities are reduced to the requirements of an artificial and h u m w d o f drum life , to keep pace ith the tame surroun ings a d n stable yar , and the unnatural co finement in even the m ost gorgeous stable and stall, loose box or sheltered d pad ock . To him the very best and unlimited domestic home is a prison compared with the smallest privileges

he enjoys in his native sphere . A wild band of these untutored lords of the plain roamed in defiance o f cap ture during many years on the vast plains i n the region ‘ of country borderi n g on the Yu o a and Feather Rivers in o n t e direction , and the foot hills skirting the coas range E S H v s . S H RI DI NG NGLI IRI . 43

o . f the Sierra Nevada, in California, in the other The

- r t $ leade of the band was a jet black horse, all and grace t s h t a t . ful , wi h a coa that hone in the sun like a silk His formation was of the Flying Childe rs mould and his style do d equally suggestive of what he would un er the saddle . Th m t a n d e band was fa iliar wi h every path , gulch Indian a l l t r b y trail in tha region, which was t aversed horseme n

and pack trains passing to and from the mountains , and , although strangers to the qu a si - civilization th at follo wed d i n h the discovery of gol , they soon fell wit the new state of things and took advantage o f unwary travelers who used no precautio n s to picket their animals and set

a watch . The habit of these horses was to stealthily approach an emigran t camp where saddle and pack animals were turned o ut i a n d loose to graze for the n ght, gettin gmixed up with h e n n f o r t wild ba d , each horse selecti g his favorite the ’ S night s play would, at the ight of a man on horseback , d o f at the awn the early morning, swinging a lasso, stam pede and take with them , in their wild flight for the far

away , all the fast horses and mules that fancied the

change from slavery to freedom , and thus became willing ’ h converts to freedom s cause . These horses a d been so h long frequenters of t ose parts and so frequently chased, that t hey became so watchful and wary that a man o n m horseback swinging a lasso was a terror to the , and they con sequently became trained to sudden flight and great fin e i n speed . There was evidently a strain of blood them that came from a superior black sire with whi te d hin feet (an evidence of blood, especially in the chestnut h orse) , that it was said broke away from a train at the o f di sc o v time the emigration to Oregon, anterior to the

ery o f gold in California . Bi n n i x o f Captain , Feather River Road ranch , lost i $ 30 0 by the w ld horses a fine entucky mule, worth $ , o n f and vowed vengeance the band , o fering half the value D E T 44 THE BRI L BI S .

h i s u of mule to any man who wo ld recapture her . As there was pleasure and probable profit in the enterprise, we arranged wi th the captain t o ride o ff next day in search t of the band to see what could be done . The his ory o f the horses and the numero u s attempts made by different companies to capture them was related by Bi n n i x a s we rode over the plains , where a large herd of antelope seemed surprised at o u r intrusion .

Towards evening we came in sight of the horses, which were some four miles OH and moving on a path at right d angles with our course . We both ismounted, and with our horses a nd a Newfoundland dog took a direction s everal points to their front, so as to meet them rather w than follo in their track , for the wind at the time would be favorable to our detection . Making no usual S how o f a desire to chase them we got within a mile of their course, when we left our horses in charge of the dog and 5 0 0 o f Al l . a t approached within yards them , alone once S the band faced to the front, and turning hort around

h o fi u . das ed , enveloped in clo ds of dust On returning “ Bi n n i x th e wa s to , first thing he said , Well, what do you think of it We mounted and as we rode towards home we came to a wet, gravelly place where the water from a gorge in the foot hills ran do wn int o the plain and meeting a concealed bar of brick clay rose to th e n surface, passed over the bar, sank , and was see no more . The Honcut creek meanders through this part of the plains and discharges into the Feather River near t h e But tes but althou gh there was n o t wate r enough at the bar ff sa ti sf a c t o rv to a ord a drink, all the animals of the plain called there and pawed holes i n the wet gravel and passed

o n t . We down to the Honcut to quench their hirst _ dug a hole in t h e gravel and when it was full watered o u r “ Bi n n i x o u horses . We said to If y will come here this ” H t w o . e day weeks we will give you your mule smiled, h a . but greed to come . He went ome and we to Marysville E S H v s . S H D NGLI IRI RI ING . 45

In contemplating the capture o f the h a n d there were two courses to pursue . One was strategy in utilizing the ’ o ur th e horse s nature to purpose, and other dexterity with the lasso . We chose the former, for the latter besides being tedious in capturin g at best only one at a t — a n d ime had been tried over over again, and always t proved a failure, for the reason tha the pursuing horse carri ed ballast while the wild horse went “ light mount ” d ed , and thus their pursuer was always istanced . Tak c n ing these cir umstances into consideratio , we resolved w to resort to strategy, and named that day two eeks for o f Th e the accomplishment the enterprise . following o n Tuesday, arriving the ground with all materials nec essary , we set to work in hard earnest with crowbars , a nd o f sledges, axes coils rope . Our only companions

d - consisted of a frien of the genus homo , a well trained u d lassoing horse and a Newfo n land dog, than which none more faithful could be found . We had not seen the band again till the day named for the capture , but w we kne the direction in which it was every night . Night was the time to keep informed o f its location and movements . The hearing of the horse , no matter where d he may be , is very acute , especially so when isolate from civilization and thrown more upon his own resources to e watch and listen for hims lf . Guided by this rule we ’ combined our reason with the horse s instincts, and pick e ti n g h i m som e fifty yards off from our bivou ac under a s a bush , where no ound confused his he ring and by the d t e light of the moon we coul watch his motions, h work o f the capture commenced . We sunk live oak posts eight feet apart in a circle n o f r enclosi g a quarter of an acre g ound, and tied them m e firmly together with four tiers of rope, aking each r pe fast around each post, so that they should not give way ' all r o u n d i n case o f a break at o n e point in receiving the charge o f the horses when they found themselves shut 4 T HE D E TS 6 BRI L BI .

’ Th e a t e in . g had a trap latch and to it was fastened a trap cord one hundred yards long and reaching to the bivouac , and being sunk in the ground could not be dis d h b u t t e . covered , could be rawn by dog All the Saturday night and early morning before the da th e o u r h y named for capture , watch orse gave the usual a n d unmistakable signs of the proximity of the wi ld horses . These signs are peculiar to the tame horse when i l a o u t n c e . picketed a strange p He listens , looks and watches in the direction of the existence or approach of other horses . On such occasions he is a better watch f o r than the dog ; , while the dog is a sure and better watch and guard to give notice of local i n tru si o n ' o r dan h m w . ger, the orse hears sounds and sees objects iles a ay

He smelleth the battle afar off . n th e He liste s, looks in the direction of sounds, and t while he canno smell or see, owing to contrary winds d n a and ista ces , he can hear and feel the tre d of horses in di r e the ground beneath his feet . His ears point in the c t h e tion of the sounds , and on approach of wild horses U n he becomes nusually restive and demonstrative, walki g th e h and turning round the more as band approac es . By these and other unmistakable signs we kne w that the h band was not many miles away, and t at the time had come to u se such means as were nec e ssary to draw th e horses to wards the place designed and prepared for their n t capture . Our assista in the enterprise was rather ’ sceptica l respecting the success of o u r two weeks h ard w r work and pains , and we e e repeatedly reminded that ” B n i x n i n will be here o Sunday for his mule . It is well known to frontiersmen th at wolves can be attracted by putting asafoetida in a rag and tying it to the bi t o f the bri dle so th a t the heat and saliva f rom the ’ horse s mouth will keep it moist and thus cause i t to emit an odor that attrac ts wolves from a great dista nce . o There is an othe r dor equally effective with horses . E H s S H D NGLIS v . IRI RI ING . 47

Being out of ratio n s we sent o u r doubting Thomas o n horseback a t daylight o n Sunday morning up the m oun ‘ ’ o n tains for a supply, and his return at four o clock Bi n n i x P . M . S , he found us lying on the grass , by our ide, and th e entire band of wild horses l assoed and haltered o f inside the corrall , each horse tied to a post, while we had the famous mule tied by herself to a stake some twenty yards from the c o rral by way o f a triumph and a satisfaction in the face o f all we had heard o f th e history o f d o f n the ban and the ultimate failure our e terprise . There was a n u n derstanding among the people in the country t hat half the value of the mules a n d tame horses captured by the band would be paid to a n y person who u w would deliver them p to their o ners . With one ex c e ti o n p this pledge was cheerfully respected , and we sold the wild h orses at prices ranging from t wen ty to ti vo r n o t hund ed dollars . And we need say that the gallant

- bla ck became our fa vorite saddle horse .

H A S BIT .

Habits , good or bad , are very readily acquired by h t orses . A few repetitions of the same thing will each do them to anything in their way of their own accord . u In this respect they are like o rselves .

HO W u se do th b re e d 3 h b i i n a m a n a t . l If this were more genera , the life of the horse would be stripped of half the terrors that are occasioned by the u u se n nnecessary of the bit in u skillful hands . In d d - S i x Englan , a team of raft horses, or eight all in w a re d h a string, in both wagon and plo , riven wit out t u s reins , as oxen are wi h , and it would be a reflection n upon the i stincts, tractability and intelligence of the saddle -horse if he were suspected o f bein g less su sc e pti ble o f obedi ence to the voice in his capacity th an the b more sluggish t enants of the back sta les are in theirs . D E TH E BRI L BITS .

E E E O F TH E M U E INT LLIG NC L .

When th e mule in th e ash - cart hears th e empty b arrel o wn put o n the sidewalk, he moves on of his accord to n the next barrel , and stops agai of himself where he knows he is t o stop and altho ugh anybody may see that d n b e his father was a jackass, unusual stupi ity ca not o n w attributed to him that account , for albeit slo and k n apparently stupid, if ta en in ha d when young he can be trai ned with greater facili ty t h a n he gets credit f o r . It is the change of masters that spoils those animals that ’ don t see m to kno w the differe n ce between one own e r and u o ur another ; but they do , and we sho ld blend senses “ h wi th their ins tincts . The ox knowet his owner and ’ h r the ass his master s crib . We s ould, the efore , take advantage o f the nat ur a l facul ties of those animals th at l s r d e serve us under physica re t aint, and thus ispens with h alf th e se verity o f the instruments we use to guide and govern them . The ox and the dog are made perfectly subordinate t o our will by voice alone . Recent exhibitions of trained o f h or se s prove that the horse is capable moral influence , and that h i s understanding and tractability are o f a superior order .

Re a so n i n e v e r s e h e re a ds g at y t p t , Ma n e t m i s t k e s h i s w a y a y , Wh i l e m e a n e r b e sts W h o m i n sti c l e ds a , n t a , ” e r r l k n o w n o r a Ar a e y t st y .

n d The cat, the most i tractable and isobedient of our e domestic animals, can be trained so p rfectly that it will l do c a n fe tch and carry as wel as a g will, and be taken from its home and made to perform before strangers in a

h . r strange ouse This training of a cat is ve y unusual, l o u r e x e r but with judgment, skil and early training p i

h a s c a n e . i t a n ence proved it be don Is y wonder, there f o r t e fore , that we plead the horse , and sugges a mor

5 0 TH E D E TS BRI L BI .

o f the horse his leader rides . The di ff erence in the t w o r dispositions, so opposite in their natu e, is by no means an indication of their respec tiv e abilities ; for some of

F i 1 4 —LE AD IN THE ID IN H S E g. . G R G OR . ’ o u r fastest horses are n aturally lazy and don t lead or go t h e u freely, requiring whip or sp r to keep them up to i n their work, while the free and h gh mettled are owhere in the race yet we prefer the latter for pleasure and the former for profit . The horse that leads well, and runs

1 —LE D THE S AD D LE H F i 5 . A I S E g. NG OR .

th e a n d well up to bit, has the first element of a good - u f o r pleasant saddle horse , and is a good s bject the snaffle bit (fig . which the begi nner should learn to handle w ell before he uses the

E H AM BI T P L .

n h a s The Pelham ridi g bit a joint between the bars ,

u . t like the snaffle , and is sed with double reins The join , h o t wever . is more of a hinge than a loop join , like that E H S H D NGLIS vs . IRI RI ING . 5 1

fli a h s o n the sn a e . One rein that is lways in and work f t the snaf le and the mar ingale , while the other rein, bi t b which is narrow , works the curb and cur when nec essary . With the young racer the curb rein must be u fingered very tenderly, and be taken p to gather the ’ horse s head o r check him in his speed should he try to

t r un . bol , away or exceed his time If this bit has been well tested, and suits the horse , it is a nice one for a woman to use if she knows her horse . The Pelh am is a favorite with j o c ki e s and is essentially a bi t s racing , for the above reasons ; beside , its being ’ S th e h ingle, there is less annoying iron in horse s mout

F i 1 6 - PE LHA B . IT g . M .

i n to irritate him , or nterfere with his wi d on the home - n d- a . u n n e c s stretch , than with the bit bridoon To the e sary or bad handling o f the curb rein may be attributed n many defeats on the turf . The you g horse , in partien lar, is annoyed and fretted by its injudicious use by o r d novices in the art of riding races han ling young, d a n . d fretful horses The unstea iness of the horse, con t o n u sequently numerous false star s race co rses, may often be attributed to the u se of both bits at the same — n o f time the u mistakable evidence bad horsemanship .

Own ers of race horses should see to this . THE D E 5 2 BRI L BITS .

w The Pelham bit enables a jockey to slo his horse up, o r so as not to beat his competitor more than necessary,

- h i m . n to right should he bolt Young, high stru g horses, o r two three years old , have not had time and experien ce for sufficient mouthing and training to be steady enough S to take the curb, purs, whip and a strange rider, all at i s t once, to nsure a fair and certain tar on a course where t all is excitement around hem . When the horse becomes n t be t restive at the starti g pos , it may discovered hat the i curb or both reins are be ng used at the same time , and n i s the horse , fretted and annoyed beyo d endurance, timid and afraid to start and run against the curb , the c fie c t moral of which he has not had time to learn , while ff a dd the physical e ect of it maddens him . If we to this the use of the whip and spurs at the start , while he is n o t h e being held back , it will be surprising if, w n he t t h e t does start, he should bol before he reaches quar er pole and run wild to his death against a fence . There is no kno wing wh at a colt or any horse may do n with a strange rider, with a stra ge smell he may detest, ’ ra strange voice he don t know or understand, st nge knees , h -o n strange and and a strange motion his back , and per

. d haps a strange bit in his mouth In eed, we are disposed ff a n o r to o er y excuse for his actions , misbehavior defeat, for his cool intelligence is confused and the vim ” and pluck that would serve him on the home - stretch are taken out of him before he starts . If a man from anger and excitement weakens and gets out of breath while sitting h o w in his chair, much is it possible that the fretting a n d annoyances attending several false starts may affect a young h orse when he is getting winded o n the home — stretch a time when an extra respiration that he had o n e wasted in anger and excitement, and second he had h i m te n b lost before he started , would take inches eyond the head and girth , a victor at the winning post A boy but a few years older than the horse he rides h a s THE -AND- DO ON F O R S ADD E H ES BIT BRI L O RS . 53

i n I n m any things to learn besides sitting the saddle . s tru c ti o n s in and study of the n ature and various powers o f the Pelham bit a n d its effects o n the diff erent tempers and dispositions o f horses should be incumbent on the professional jockey , on whose skill the reputations o f a n d horses , their victories large amounts are staked . The di s d Pelham , therefore , has all the advantages and a va n It tages for victory or defeat . is a compromise between sn a fll e - - the and the bit and bridoon, the subject of our next chapter .

0 H A P T E R I I I .

THE BIT-AND-BRIDOON F O R S ADDLE H S OR E S .

We have no apology to offe r for the man wh o prefers

- - — the old fashioned bit and bridoon or double bridle h e o r needs none . For ordinary use in the park o n the road

1 7 —BIT-AND - ID N F i . . g . BR OO it is the embodimen t of perfection and although a sub sti tu te may be used to cater to the mania for new and e changing fashions , it nev r can , by any device or altera

n . tio , be improved upon or surpassed It seems to us that un f o r t in putting it on a yo g horse the firs time, he is E S 5 4 TH E BRI DL BIT . used to it because his predecessors and ances tors had been adorned and ridden wi th it so long before . Its safety

d ‘ s bu t recommen s it above all others for the side addle, of course only so to the hand that can hold and finger the reins properly . This bridle has two distinct bits—the curb bit and the S t bridoon bit . If one bit or rein hould break here is one h a s a n d of each left . Each bit a separate headstall , to each bit there is a separate rein . A martingale is used h with t is bridle , and so looped on the overlapping girth that both girths shall fit tight to the horse . The rear girth should be buckled first and then the fore girth r u n through the martin gale and buckled as t ight as it can be h d drawn . When skillfully handled, t is bri le, without f o r being severe, is the nicest one we have pleasure riding, and while th e curb bit is not strong enough to hold in a hard - mouthed horse it is quite powerful enough for a h a s o wn horse well broken to its use . If a woman her w - - - - ell selected saddle horse trained to the bit and bridoon , t n o t and no o her, she can always enjoy her ride . We do th e recommend it for strength or security, but we do for various degrees of physical and moral power it can bring — to bear on th e horse from that o f a silken thread to the full strength of the bits and reins, the latter being strong in proportion to the strain that the bit will bear and the t h e o f horse requires . Reversing order things , the to t f o r - mouth has be made to sui this bridle, the bit and bridoon bridles are generally of the same m aterial and strength , but varying in size , and the ordinary saddle horse, for either sex , must have his mouth made to suit d ’ it, so that the hand that is use to the bridle won t have to change it . Some hunters are so used to a tight snaffle rein in tak u o n ing fences that, in t rning them round a road with t h to the tigh bridoon rein , t ey are apt dash over the fence d - before the ri er can stop them . With the side saddle H T- - D F AD D E E T E BI AND BRI O ON O R S L H O RS S . 5 5 this is ra ther dange rous but to avoid it the horse should be ridden o n th e curb and care taken n o t to use the knees o r make any o f th e usual motions o f the body kno w n to u o n t h e a the horse in earnest riding, while the t rn ro d is b w eing made . We al ays ride with a tight rein , and pre f ferring a strong puller on the snaf le , we have had some ’ experience in t hese imp romp tu exercises of horses pro e n si ti e s o r p to take fancy leaps without leave license . The bridoon rein o n which t h e martingale hangs is less o n e h h h than inc wide , but its strengt corresponds wit th e powe r used with it in holding the horse u p while i n a t riding ordinary , lifting him the leap or in bearing t 0 the strain of the mar ingale , if necessarily short . N arm can break it . u The c rb rein is narrow , not only because the strain o n it is slight a n d corresponds with the strength o f the t i t bit and the possible s rain is subject to , but because both curb and bridoon reins are held i n one h an d and be their alternate use frequent . If the horse and rider h mutually agreeable and t ey like each other, and in pass n ing through a strange country , u known to both , they t wo n o ff t o th e come to roads branchi g the right and left, horse kno ws as well as the rider does which road his rider n i th e w d intends taki g . Inst nct is at play, and kno le ge is communicat ed from the hand through the reins to the ’ r bit, thence to the b ain . If the rider don t know which r h i s oad to take , he had better give the horse head and let ’ h i m take his choice . If the object is to go home he won t go astray . Phrenology is not limited to the functions of the human brain it takes a wider sphere , and descends t h e l w a o ur to o er anim ls . Among domestic animals it is Pe c u applicable a n d unmistakable in the dog and horse . liar formations o f the skulls of thes e two friends of man l o f t vary, and the inte lectual bo h can be picked out by An d feeling them in the dark . , although we can see a ’ faithful and intelligen t dog s soul i n his eye as he looks H E B I DLE S 5 6 T R BIT . straight into ours with a lo ve and devotion so evident in no other beast, the intelligence and devotion of the horse are manifested in other ways with o u t being so demon i stra t ve .

t t h e u n re a Would it not be well, herefore, to consider so n a bl e n e ss u t n o r , amounting to cr el y , of ha dling holding , and g uiding these two servants entirely by physical force ?

To tie up a Newfoundland dog (the close friend, protector a n d h i m and companion of man, woman child) , and keep — in solitary c o n fin e m e n t while all he loves dearly as his life are at play around the stoops and halls of the family o u t n home, and perhaps all walk and leave him chai ed t o to whine , pine and cry for his liberty join in the even — ing stroll i s a kind of cruelty far in excess of flogging Ho w a fie c ti o n a te n and starvation . many a imals have o f t died broken hear s , and how near does this kind of o f cruelty go to the breaking of the spirit, if not the heart, u favorite animals aro nd us that, fearing inconsiderate t u r abuse, suppress their torturing grief as hey fawn at o i feet and coaxingly, and in the r own way, ask permission to lick the chastening hand .

The horse, like the dog, enjoys his freedom, and if he i does not whine and cry, he neighs, and tries n other h i w ays to make known s wants . While he is subservient ’ a n d in every respect to his owner s will, would enjoy a l gallop on his own account in a grass field , he is close y . S confined in a narrow tall from year to year, tied up to a m anger with a short rope or chain as if he were a Bengal tiger and when he is put to his daily toil his education n is so neglected that he knows no moral restrai t . He is w o f pulled, hauled and chucked ith his mouth full iron , that being the only means adopted and used f o r his guid ance, with no more consideration by some men than if he sa d - were a saw log . The dle horse, however, is more exempt than the harness horse from the usual tortures due and abuse, and needs the consideration his n ature

THE B RI DLE S 5 8 BIT .

and bridoon bits be used at the same time, for that is contrary to common sense and the firs t principles Of the e arts and science of hors manship . Yet , this error is a com m on practice . When the bridoon rein is tight the curb rein S hould t be about three inches longer , so hat, should the bridoon t b be suddenly drawn tigh er, the cur rein will be free and

h a n d -fin e r when the curb is needed, wit the thumb fore g Of the whip hand dra w the curb rein through the fingers of the lef t h and till it is about two inches shorter than o n the bridoon rein (fig . The horse is now the curb, i n his head is gathered , and he is light hand and ready for instant Obedience and action . T O d d rop the curb rein and resume the bri oon , the bridoon rein is drawn through the fingers Of th e left hand by the two fore - fin ge rs a nd thum b O f the whip hand the curb rein is then allo wed to S lip through the fingers till it is S lack and the pressure is felt on the bridoon rein again . The horse now knows he is to r e sume his walk or trot, and takes his head . In cantering , ’ the curb rein is taken up to gather th e horse s head and o t to make him g lighter in hand . We canno too urgently i m press the reader with the fact that the great pleasure d - erived from riding is , in having a well mouthed horse , o f a n d a perfect knowledge and command the bridle bits , and the same bits and bridle, without a change, used at

s . all time , with the same horse Althou gh we like the Pelham bi t and bridle f o r the d e t side sa dle , y for the safety of the horsewoman we — woul d prefer the bi t- and -bridoo n fearing accidents to r s th e the bit a n d rein . Three accidents a e pos ible to o r Pelham bridle The bit, rein curb might break there b ut n t h e is then no alternative, a clea runaway in “ ” absence of moral control and trus t to luck . All ’ h horses mout s are not made to order, and the same bit, be th e s bridle and saddle should used, so that hor e will ' THE -AND- DO O F O R S ADDLE H O S E BIT BRI N R S .

h feel at ome, as we do ourselves in Old clothes . A ’ woman s arm is n o t strong enough to contend with a o r i n o r hard mouth pulling horse, either riding driving .

The power , therefore, should be in the bit, and besides i n - d having her horse , either service , well mouthe , she should have the strength in the bit i n proportion to a

b S O n possi le necessity, that she could use it at her Optio to lighten up her horse ’s head and control him in any emergency . Her horse must be so trained that the bit

- d u and bri oon will be powerful eno gh to master him, for ’ i this is essentially a woman s br dle, and everything should be equal to it . If a woman’s horse becomes restive from undue use Of b o r a n d a n a i t the cur , any other cause , she be not f in a its management, a straight runaw y on an Open field o r road might be less dangerous tha n contending with an n O f untrai ed or strange horse in a fit capering, rearing n e t and plungi g to g free from the curb, which should be dr a n y opped when he shows disposition to cut up capers, h — u n as he is likely to do if he s ies at anything for , l t fortunate y , it is customary to chas ise horses for this habit, which arises from a naturally timid and cautious f disposition to keep out O danger . Of co urse th e chas ti si n g makes him worse, knowing that when he sees any a n d thing to fear shies at it, he will get whipped o r d spurre . When a horse becomes restive and rears , it is O f b frequently from too much pressure the cur , which he o r n may not like understand, and thinki g he is wanted on his hind legs (for the curb has a tendency to cause him to throw up his head to ease his u n der-j a w from the a - chain) rears accordingly . As a s ddle horse may balk f - dri rom bad riding, and a harness horse stop from bad v w ing, or both run a ay from bad handling, we must ex amine t h e bit and see where the fault is this the experienced eye can see at a glance . '

60 TH E BRI DLE BITS .

THE A D A E CURB N MARTING L .

The curb and martingale have n o fellowship with each b t o r other . They elong to two different bi s different t reins, for , while the curb canno be used on the bridoon , n t h the martingale should o be used on t e curb rein . The Of use either one needs judgment, whether put on at all,

. TO e fie c ti ve t or used at all when on be , wi hout over l t contro ling the horse, they require very nice adjus ing in t w be regulating their con rolling po er, so as to easy and S a n d S O n agreeable to the horse when lack, yet be icely held as to remind him they are there when required. Th e whip, the curb and the spur unite in their respective appliances to keep the horse alive to his duties and ever h ’ t ready to Obey wit alacrity his rider s will, whe her con

e e d bi t . v y by word, or motion of the body or limbs

C I V H A P T E R .

F i 20 —THE CA AL Y BIT g. . V R .

THE CA ALRY BIT V .

The cavalry bit, with arched bar and single rein, is i n very powerful . It is used with a strong c urb chain the mouth o f an untrained horse and in the hands of a TH E A A C V LRY BIT . 6 1

u n bad horseman it is cr elly severe . Resista ce to it on ’ ’ th e s o r o f horse part, undue use it on the rider s, are h w ri m a r bot alike rong, and from lack of p v mouthing , O f daily use and due training, the results superficial edu t i n ca ion are evident every move of both horse and rider . Nothing in equestrian practice pleases a recr u it better than to use this bit and keep his horse on the dance all t h e o n t o S w O ff time, with his chin his breast ho him , i thinking t looks stylish . For the service our cavalry horses have to perform, this bit is too severe when used alone by unskilled hands . Using the same kind Of bit with every horse is a great error . It is well enough to call them regulation bits, but to some horses they are — regulation tortures . Horses are not like castings made to order and all r un in the same mould .

E MO UNTE D PO LIC .

The Ne w York mounted police use this kind of bit and re d th e e o r c urb with a single in, a n be hors hard tend

F — i 2L M UTNTED P LI C E . g. O O e r - d w - mouthe , fast or slo , sluggish or high mettled, he must submit to its severity . The men as a body, Of n o t r course, are p actical horsemen , nor are they subject d h to regular rill to improve them in that accomplis ment . The result is that their horses are always o n the curb or n Of dance, without any i terval relief, and are thus ren TH E D E TS 62 BRI L BI . dered incapable of some possible performance necessary in the course of their duties . It is necessary to have perfect control O f the cavalry O f l horse in action . For this purpose the bar the c a va rv bit is arched to such a degree that when the rein is drawn w backward , the arch is pressed for ard against the roof of a n d the mouth , thus pries it open, while the curb chain - t presses on the under jaw , which combined ac ion brings th e head down in subjection to the hand, or causes him 0 w bi t to rear. N horse could swallo this if nothing broke,

t a . and he is, herefore, lways under control But there is

- F i 22 NT ED P LI C E B IT . g. . MOU O a limit to the frequency and the degrees of this u se Of f o r v such a bit, an undue application of it keeps a ner ous, m d sensitive ani al on the ance, fret and sweat while he is o n t duty, and, besides iring , takes out Of him the vim and fire that could be reserved for a better purpose when required for the benefit of the service and not for the d b a i n n vanity of the ri er . This gg g an d yanki g at the bit d h is one , per aps, some twenty times an hour while the o r o n horse is under the saddle , whereas once twice a day such duty might suffice, if necessary at all . Bits such a s these are used mercif ully in countries TH E C A A 6 V LRY BIT . 3

m e n w here are on horseback from childhood for, having l u a perfect y balanced seat nder all circumstances , they are n o t dependent on reins to balance them in their own ’ l No t o r their horse s critica motions and performances . wh o so with the recruit, in our service and the European, ente rs the c a va l rv school at eighteen (an age at which d and from which no man could be ma e a horseman , in possession o f the necessary k n owledge of the horse and Of n c a n all the arts and science that , from youth alo e , be and are acquired and mastered as h e advances up tO that age) ; there is tO O much to le a rn beyond the mere cavalry dr ill and the n ecessary riding that attends it o n ordinary

o r . duty , in either peace war The horse, his rider and the sword have been inseparable since wars began , and they ever will be ; and the more perfect the horseman n the more dexterous he can be with his weapo s . But as th e cavalry saddle, bridle, seat, training and duties are diff erent from those in that branch Of peculiar horseman

i n sh ip ( the field) that excels them all, the character of ff a s the riding must necessarily be di erent l o . 64 TH E BRI D LE BITS .

C H A P T E R V

- - THE CAVALRY BIT AND BRIDO ON. dl The regulation cavalry bri e , as used in the United t b S ates army, has two its , a curb , two reins and one head

i 23 — A AL B IT -AND -B D F . . C I g V RY R OON . stall . The curb bit is the same as that described in the pre o r ceding chapter . The bridoon watering bit has no guards and is used with the curb bit as an auxiliary when the horse i n o u t is mounted , but is used alone going to water . The

- bridoon has rings and a single loop joint between the bars , f . t t the same as the sna fle It has four dis inc uses First , t f o r m o n th hat Of a watering bridle second , easing the n o f from the curb bit third , for certa i uses weapons in t f o r action , especially the sword ; four h , leaping . But owing to the trouble it gave in changing from the use Of o n e to o f i t bit the other and the care , it was thrown away by many men i n the caval ry service during th e war o f th e the rebellion, and then there was no relief from

HE D E S 6 6 T BRI L BIT .

NO n death o r victory . soo er is a thrust made at a right front attack (for which we are using the bridoon rein, fig . than we are assaulted on our right rear with the first T O m cut . eet this onslaught we slacken the bridoon rein, b take up the cur , drop the point of our sword to the rear,

— — IN N E P T TO TH E F T . 24. CHA F i g . RG O RO

a n d a n d guard the assault , with a sharp dexterous turn f s Of o the wrist and a sla hing cut, draw the edge the ’ w s ord across our antagonist s face, clap spurs to our o d s a n d r . hor e dash on , or turn for assault efense t o n The horse s ill on the curb, we are assaulted our ’ d right front, and as our antagonist s sword comes own upon our guard (the point O f o u r sword well turned to h the right) , we draw the left rein shorter than the rig t, to

F 25 —C UT To THE E A i g . . R R .

’ turn our horse s head away from th e sweep of the sword h h i s d (fig . then, t rowing him on haunches , eliver o r c u t o r s 0 11 the right right rear , parry point , pa s , turn h i m short round to the right or left, and attack in the

. O f b rear Our antagonist disposed , the cur rein still in -A D - DO O 6 THE CAVALRY BIT N BRI N . 7

hand and spurs pressed home , the horse dashes on as the m f e e o r n victor or the vanquished to eet another , rejoi

the ranks . The fate Of empires have been decided by cavalry charges in less time than it takes to read this t S paragraph . Cavalry at acks are harp , short and de d t c i si ve f o r . , either victory or efea s h The interested reader will under tand t at , to get a balancing purchase to enable the S wordsman to put more

w w - u t h e th e po er into the s ord arm in thr sting to front, left hand pulls on th e bridoon bit while the right hand a l l ff delivers the point, rendered the more e ective by the f h n velocity o t e charge . Pulling the bridoo rein with all ’ f o r t a n d one s might the ins ant, balances the body thus

gives the right arm corresponding power to push , which it could n o t have if the body had no support from the

bridoon rein in runni n g the antagonist through . This n o t be lever power could had from the other rein , for the severity Of the curb and curb bit would not admit of O f u it from that source ; and the horse , instead r shing w n l for ard in respo se to the spurs , wou d halt and fall a d back , the very reverse Of the action necessary to give di ti o n a l force to th e forward thrust in such a hand tO - h and fl t con ict , which frequently takes place in cut ing down

the cavalry antagonist, capturing the standard or the de o f h o t fenders batteries t at have g the range , and are mow d o f ‘ ing o wn the troops the assailant . If we reverse this actio n of th e arms and rest the left hand o n a box the n t height of our k ee , what strength it gives the righ arm t o f n w to lif a weight that , from want bala cing po ers , we ” n o t w could ind . In pursuing a defeated army the infant ry soldier turns wh o n h i m his bayonet to the cavalry pursuer, , in passi g b y , gives him a slashing rear cut, and should he fire after h i s assailant the next S wordsman cuts him do wn before i Bu t d O f he has time to reload or fire aga n . in these ays modern improvements i n fire - arms the pursuing cavalry D 68 TH E BRI LE BITS . soldier is at a disadvantage in his conflict with the i n f a n tr di y sol er, armed with a magazine gun ; yet , under all i n do h circumstances, men action the best t ey can , and in this emergency the pursuing blood - thirsty cavalier brings his bit again into requisition, and attacking a o n u l o w pursued man his left, s ddenly throws his horse o r upon his haunches , and with the assault rear cut hews w w Th e the man do n with a single blo . expert infantry b o o n e t w soldier parries the sword with his y , hile the ex pert and cool-headed swordsman lets the parry pass h i s r feint and the n delivers his cut . The expe t sword sman takes care , when he can , that his parry ends where his most effective cut or point begins , and is delivered in the h opening made by t e parry . In these critical movements d n of both the horse and ri er, and the ecessarily dexterous th e d o r t handling of swor lance , it will be perceived tha s n the bit plays the mo t delicate and ecessary part, and that without it nothing could be done . In some cavalry schools of practice we have seen the m s sa e pace kept up in delivering both points and cut , but this is contrary to the pl a inest rules O f common sense ’ and the Eastern swordsman s effective practice . For, if c u t t h e we to the rear while we are charging to front, the O f o ut speed n eutralizes the force our , because we are moving away from instead Of to the Object we assault

O n the same principle Of rowing with or against a stream . In rowing down str eam we have the advantage of the e a r s r o w force Of the current against our ; but, if we n t h e h t h e e a rs agai st it, water gives way wit and we lose power that we gain by th e resistance Of the curren t i O against the c a rs in going wit h t . S that when the pur sued and pursuers are going th e same way the hal t Of the latter is indispensable for an effective cut to the rear ; besides It is safer to entertain the antagonist till disposed h i m In i Of, rather than to pass on and leave a cond tion tO i t keep up a magazine fus llade at the cavalry targe . In - - TH E c a v x LRv BIT AND BRI DO O N . 69 such instances of life and death struggles by th e indi S o r o f w vidual members of a quadron two ell led cavalry, t m O f pending grea battles, the loss Of ar ies and the fates S O empires have been decided . There are many advantages n to u ecessary the s ccess Of cavalry charges , that it does not always depend upon the judgment of the commander. The ground and stren gth of position will Often favor the numerically weaker force .

O E O R EAS E F R IGN T RN BITS .

- It may be argued that in Spanish America, Spain , Tar tary, Circassia, Arabia, and Eastern countries generally, the curb and ring bits are used singly on all occasions . Of We are aware this but, in the first place, the horse men i n those countries are in th e saddle from childhood h o w a n d and know to use the bit and spare the horse ; ,

t d ‘ secondly, while we have impor ed and adopte the bits , we have left the riders at home . The curb bit in the cavalry service, as in the hunting field , should never be used in leaping, and as battle fields are geographically u uncertain , cavalry sho ld be prepared to take things as a n d t wo — they come . But only one bit reins one mild — o n and the other severe the Pelham plan , is the best a n d v h e bit for the cavalry horse the ser ice performs . With the curb bit al one the horse can be manoeuvred wa y l in any , but he cannot be made to eap unless he u d I t chooses , for the use Of the c rb efeats the effort . intimidates and confuses the horse when he is calculating his distance and taking the measure of the Object before r a n d w him . It attracts his attention f om his work, dra ing his head do wn convexes his crest when it ought to be concaved, and instead of giving him his head as he wants and needs it for both wind and action as well as Observa t tion , he is held down and back, bo h of which are the very reverse o f what we want h i m to do hence the 0 TH D 7 E BRI LE BITS .

n h w h o f numerous accide ts . T ose doubt the judgment o the h orse must y ield to the fact that th e most ordinary horse o r animal of any kind puts muscular power to h i s i n e t o b bound pr portion to the width or height e leaped . As we bid farewell to the cavalry regulation watering o n n o t Wi n bit, campaigns , we do do so thout recommendi g u a s bstitute not unknown to the service , and one that is calculated to answer all the requirements of both bits and i n i t s the advantage claimed resuming use . We must con sider that we cannot have everything our own way while d the horse we ri e has to do the work . His ideas must be consulted as to how, not what, is to be done . Give him a to understand by proper me ns what you want him to do, ’ t h e th e and leave performance to him . If rider don t know how to give his horse to un derstand how high or h o w t . far he is to jump, he had bet er learn

I C H A P T E R V .

AL Y O R MILI AR CAV R T Y BIT.

o l d w h The cavalry or military bit , it rings in a line with the bar for bridoon reins , is preferable , as regards r n the rings and their purposes , to the egulatio cavalry n bit o w used i n the United States Army . For the curb di fie re n t and bridoon reins work the same bit, but with ff powers , meanings , e ects , times and results . In the use of the rings for the bridoon reins, we dispense with the watering bit o n campaigns and adop t a steering apparatus far better adapted for practical purposes in the field than th e i n O ur bridle now use . reasons for recommending it are drawn from o ur life -long practical knowledge of horses e i o f d ff d h and hors mansh p i erent kin s , bot civil and mili h u tary, t s taking in a wide range of experience, alike in America and E urope and we have no hesitation in say A A R O R M A C V L Y ILIT RY BIT . 7 1

s ing that it is easier and better for the hor e , while his rider can do more and do it better with it than with the n o w w i t regulation bit as used with the atering b . The great advantage is in the two rings f o r the bridoo n n o t reins , which , when drawn , do put any strain on the lever and the curb that th e curb rei n alone works with i such effect on the most trivial occasions, as described n I n the preceding chapter . this bridle we have the prin c i l e s m p and advantages of the Pelha , thus abandoning at r ce tain times, for convenience , the troublesome watering o f bridle , which our men in the late war found more use for carrying bundles of hay and straw to their horses than i t s r for riding with , and it is doubtful if value in this e t o f i t spec was equivalent to the trouble carry ing . Articles furnished cavalry soldiers are not al ways put h exclusively to their legitimate uses . His hat olds alter n a te l y his head, water and grain his blanket covers his — body a n d keeps it warm at night and cool by day carries a n d corn in the ear and chaff utensils to camp . His shelter tent a covert fro m the storm and a shadow from ” r m the heat ) carries bread , sanitary supplies and a ple t loot . His bridle serves as a hal er his saddle bears h i s body on the march and h i s head in the hour o f re pose his surcingle binds on his saddle o n the daily march and serves as an impromptu trace in hauling boxes of w mud to chink his winter hut, hile his saddle blanket, at the last sound of the evening trumpet call, covers his feet and keeps O R the chilling midnight air . His pistol kills a f e e to - day and a friend to - morro w ; his s word hews down men at morn and wood and bread in the bivouac at h i s S w even , and at night marks hallo grave . By proper instruction the recruit can soon learn t o understand h o w ’ to ease his horse s mouth a n d still have a rein to balance himself till he gets his seat . The argument agains t a substitute for the watering bit ’ th e will be that a horse can t drink with curb bit, and 2 THE D E S 7 BRI L BIT . that if the curb bit or rein should break or be cut he has the bridoon to fall back on . Horses can drink all they want with any bit . The sacrifice is so trifling , compared with the advantages of di spensing with a l l extra e n c u m b ra n c e s o n t campaigns, hat we consider the preference is due th e proposed change and general ade ption o f the S i n a t o n n w gle bit with rings the guards a li e ith the bar . o u r o f In the last winter of civil war, scores our cavalry

V a . horses in Camp Averill , near Winchester, , were with o u t blankets and halters, and were consequently tied to u m o n th s stumps with the c rb bridles on and bits in their , t h t e watering bits having been thrown away . As Assis ’ i n r ant Inspector General Sheridan s Co ps, one of our duties was to send to the War Office w eekly returns of every article on hand and everything needed . But it was in vain we reported a lack of horse blankets and halters, o f and asked for a coil rope to make halters of . The to horses stood to their bridles fast stumps, ate , drank, raided and rested during all that winter without any r e o f n lief, irrespective the umerous reports and requisitions In made for these and other things , the assertion of the t spector General of the Corps , O is, to the contrary not w ithstanding. By the resumption o f the old bit we would get rid of the tortures of the curb a n d the trouble and annoyance f f e w o the watering bridle, which , although but a ounces w n o n eight , is an encumbra ce which tells long marches f o days at a time, while it serves no purpose to relieve the

h u w a . It orse in any s bstantial y does very well at stations , i n to peace time , when men have nothing else do but to di i n play at sol er in rid g out to water, exercise, drill, c lean barracks and horses and take care of such things as m ake up the general assortment of cavalry equipments . ” Bu t - i in grim v saged war , when an army strips for a ‘ m n a ll su r e rflu o u s — h ca paig , p camp articles suc as tents , n o n baggage, cooking utensils, forges, tools , women,

D E 74 THE BRI L BITS .

o ff - e xte m o r half its force in details, which the hand, p a h neons speech dispenses with , and exposes the facts wit o u r out the fogs . (See paper on the subject to General D m 1 883 l Milroy, ece ber, , and deposited in the Cava ry

D . O fli c e . sub se Bureau , War , Washington , C and S quently partially acted upon in Sheridan army, and th e e n d perhaps in other armies during latter of the war . ) 1 862 o n In March , , when the Army of the Potomac moved t Ne w Richmond , the Firs York (Lincoln) Cavalry Regi me n t took forty- eight q uartermaster wagons o n th e n d n campaig . Three years afterwards, when with Sheri a V e in the all y of the Shenandoah , the regiment was m d i n brigaded , and when the brigade ove aga on Rich t h mond and on to Ap pomat ox , it was composed of t ree — Ne w i regiments the First York (L ncoln) , and the First and Third West V irginia (the Second V irginia remained in the V alley) — there was but one wagon allowed to the n brigade , thus in stripping this vetera and experienced 1 90 764 1 91 army for the campaign, wagons , mules and n b u t drivers were dispensed with , and there being one the a m u n i ti o n and necessary supply wagons to c ut up the roads and impede the progress, the army mo ved with effective celerity . I h . n t e 1 864 But this is not all spring of , when the Army of the Shenandoah was under marching orders for ’ a the summer s c mpaign, an order was issued by the commanding general, stating in detail each article to be supplied to and carried by each m a n and horse in the

. t cavalry arm of that army Besides sabre, carbine , pis ol, twenty rounds o f pistol and forty rounds o f carbine car ’ ’ t ri d e s n g , three day s ratio s and feed, the soldier s kit, or, “ ” It In b as they call the West, the possi le bag, was to i k conta n soap , towel , socks , comb , brush , nife and fork, ti n h a n d plate , s oe brush and blacking, numerous other ’ articles of conveni ence that even the soldier himself don t i i l ke to leave beh nd . To test the presumed capacity of A A O R TA C V LRY MILI RY BIT . 75

the cavalry horse as a beast of burden, we ordered a man weighing 1 75 pounds to fit himself o u t with a full supply ’ o f this regulation outfit and rode with h i m to Adams Ma r ti n sb u r h V a express office scales in g , West irgini . We r o f ordered the horse st ipped everything , and the man with his accoutrem ents and the trappin gs of his horse t 2 80 i n a . put the scales , which balanced pounds Of course the three days’ feed and rations for the man and s horse became le s, daily , till exhausted ; but the weight h to t t o f was t ere s ar with , and with the exception the n o th e rations there was reduction in weights , except th e a n t that of the cartridges, in event of argument wi h the enemy . After many serious arguments the campaign resolved itself into a retreat from Ly n c h b u rgh to the Ohio Ri ver . In passing through th e C umberland Mountains o n the d o u t way, the horses being overloa ed , gave , and some four troops were shot on the road in one day . The best horses , being unequal to the weight , were the first S u to fail and be hot . We state these circ mstances to S how the advantage and th e disadvantage of two sys tems—light and heavy marching— and that there is a point at which to stop adding to the articles in a soldier’s ’ h m kit and the orse s equip ents . T E E 76 H BRIDL BITS .

V I I C H A P T E R .

ME$ I N R N BI CA I G T .

The illustration below represents the principle o f the Spanish ring bit as used i n Mexico and all Spanish A n b merica countries . It far excels the cur in both w In fl xi bl e . e po er and severity The ring being , it is the o f most cruel all t h e bits when in unskilled hands .

F i - E I A I . $ C B IT . g 26 . M N R NG

While the curb is broad , flat and comparatively pliable, the ring is hard and unyielding , and consequently instant o f obedience is the result of the slightest touch the rein . The ring passes through a loop - hole in the back part of o f the apex of the arch in the bar , while the front the ’ u o f t O o f tong e the arch is rounded off, like the p one s o f thumb . so that when it presses on the roof the mouth ’ it opens it but don t cut the bars in doing so . The ring passes o u t at the u pper corners of the mouth and around a w the under j , and when the rein is drawn the arch is thrown for ward against the palate and the ring pressed a w against the bones of the under j , where the curb E $ A M IC N RING BIT. 7

t presses and exercises its mas erly functions , but with

double the severity o f the curb . Across the middle of t h e arch i n the bar of the bit there is a small bar from tw o o n which hang or three copper tags, which act the same principle as those on the mouthing bi t and f o r the

same purpose . In h This ring bit is used with a single rein . andling

the lasso it is most effective . Its simplicity and con ve n i e n c e recommend it for the expeditious manner i n ut t r which it can be p on, he e being no curb or extra parts to look up and fit on but we recommend it on ly to the hand that is skilled in its use and well balanced th O t in e saddle . N novice should use it before put ing an old horseshoe in his own mouth and letting some awk ward fello w drive h i m round a while with i t and chuck h i m now and then . That would give him an idea of ff how his horse would su er in uncul tivated hands . The ring bit is a terror to all horses subject to its c ontrol .

The best made ring bits are manufactured in England . c u t n h The given represents one of E glis manufacture, n i tended for a large horse . We bought the original in the city of Mexico and used it un der protes t o n a favorite ’ w horse we took there from Ne York . Some horses don t

i - t take to it . It is too severe for the timid , h gh s rung

o n - o r animal , and too cruel if used a lunk head large n o t In horse that would yield to it . our opinion the rin g bi t is fit only for sm a ll h orses that c a n be stopped a t i l T h short, turned round and thrown back w l . e large ten hundred weight horse cannot bring up such a heavy i n body suddenly answer to its severity . Such heavy horses S hould be trained to its moral rather than to its '

w t . a . physical po er, , if trained to it at all The system o f brute force pursued by horsemen in the

t- East is practiced on small , shor legged horses that can ” o f y man euvre on a limited sur ace . In France, sa s

. t Capt Nolan , hey make their chargers canter round a TH E D E S 78 . BRI L BIT .

S ixpence and pull up and turn round at speed . This they ’ do by tying th e horse s nose down with a standing mar i l S f t n a e . g , attached to a piked sna fle They then fasten a rope to the rings of th e snaffle and longe the animal on a very small circle , with a man on his back who stre n u l f f o u s y applies the whip and spurs . A ter a e w days at a t o ff this , they practice the horse starting at speed and pulling up on the spot, when their charger is ready for ” n T . h the field . This trai ing is entirely mechanical e — horse feels no friendship towards his rider only fear . ’ But this is not training . The horse s disposition to sub d o mit to moral influence is not cultivated, nor oes he d anything of his own free will— i t is all brute force but h n o t ff even wit this it could be made so e ective on large, heavy horses as on small ones . If we observe the peculiarity of the horsemen of each nation , we will find that the character of the riding, feats and exercises are regulated by the breed , size and style of the horses of the respective countries . Thus, in ’ th e - fi h te r s Mexico bull g horse is not only a small, thin, u n f r active mustang, but he is blindfolded (and not e qu ently purposely blinded) before being taken into the fire - arena to face an infuriated bull , maddened by crackers t th e fastened to darts s uck in his skin , and sights , sounds h i m and smells of thousands around , and rendered fierce a n d fearless by the challen ges o f the red flags and th e blood o f others beneath his feet . Large horses would have no chance or advantage in such a contest, and when we consider t h e practice Of horsem en in the Eastern n h cou tries , we find that their expertness wit spears , sharp d s u swor s , small , active hor es and powerf l bits , are due t ff d to the peculiari y of the di erent bree s, for it is at the very threshold of circumstances that e very nation has its u peculiarities , as well in its practices as in its prod ctions m n and am u se e ts . In usin g the ring bit with our large saddle -horses E $ A IT M IC N RING B . 79 patient trainin g is necessary to get them to take to and n t o f o f understa d it . On the retrea the Army the m n 1 862 u t Potomac fro before Richmo d , in , we p our o n - S o f fin e Mexican ring bit a young, high trung horse t s peed a n d action . He wen perfectly wild . The first t hing he did was to run away with it, and in trying to ste p him the ring broke, when the horse, taking his head, dashed into the ranks as if he expected relief from a n d the troop horses . He seemed maddened acted like a

t be e . horse wi h a in his ear On the same day, at the v i n o f battle of Sa age Station , we went search a canteen

‘ o n re tu rn i n of water, and g the horse took fright again o f and having no control him with a broken bit , he swallowed i t and dash ed through a quartermaster’s tent o n and stores fire, near Savage Station , and again rushed c e r ta i n l into the ranks . He v declared war against th e ring bit but a s he was t o o good an animal to conqu e r wa in such a y , and thus break his spirit and otherwise h i m trifle with his disposition , we humored and never put th e bit in his m outh again . — On another occasion i n a charge on cavalry at S i x ’ o f J 5 t h 1 864 o clock in the morning une , , at the battle of — f V a . o Piedmont , , the curb a regulation bit broke and ’ he dashed through the enemy s ranks like a shot, and , th e bringing him round by degrees, he rejoined regiment . This horse was wholly unmanageable with a n y bit when h B he took i t into his ead to run away . ut after we b e came better acquainted and he began to know our voice , we had rings put on the guards of a regulation bit, and b t henceforth always used the ridoon rein , excep in action, when necessity required the curb . If we must keep such powerful regulation bits we must have horses’ mouths made to order, for the question is not what bit will suit the horse , but what horse will suit the bit . We used the altered regulation bit with this horse until he became accustomed to it, and never used any other with him to 0 TH E D E 8 BRI L BITS .

t h h i m a t - e end of the war . We rode three steeple chases l and won the regimental cha lenge cup three times, and brought it and its gallant winner home when the cruel war was over .

V C H A P T E R I I I .

A N H E S TER ORS ES .

o e m Horses found their way int Europ fro the East , t w h where hey ere hig ly prized and used for the saddle . The smaller the horse the easier i t is to han dle him and m use him to a powerful bit . And as horse anship and l swordsmanship were highly estimated accomp ishments, i n and inseparable those countries in ancient times , as they a r t o f u are still in many parts , the single combat req ired n o f the nimble actio the small horse to charge , strike, w t u l e ss a c ti ve heel and re ire to ins re victory over a foe,

v unskilled in the game of ca alry tag . As a t est of horsemanship and training it is a common a practice in Mexico to ride the small, active must ng at fu e ll spe d against a stone wall , and rein him up to a dead w stand with his forefeet against the base of the all . This r o n e t n o t b e is certainly a g eat feat, and hat could per o u r d formed by large sad le horses . It shows the power of the bit and the training o f th e horse to its u se in yield i t . ing to instantly, instead of resisting its power o f l Captain Nolan , of the Fifteenth Hussars , and Ba a t klava Light Brigade fame , contends tha the English ” horse has no superior in anything . But both Nolan and Sir George Cox wrote more from theory than from p ra c d “ tical knowledge o r unbiased min s . Nolan says I n o t have heard it said that the English horse is adapted , o f n b d like the Arab and others Easter ree , to skirmishing ,

E 82 THE BRIDL BITS .

Persian to give them that compact form and wiry limb t that they need . The fine Irish roop horses , formerly so t n o t 1 85 3 sough for, are now ( ) to be procured in the o f l o w - d market . Instead the long, , deep cheste , short

- d backed , strong boned horse of former ays , you find $ n e w b u t - t - nothing long legged, s raight shouldered ani m m t als , prone to disease fro the time hey are foaled, and whose legs grease after a common field day . These ani mals form t h e staple of our remounts .

The English cavalry are n o t what they should be . If brought fresh into the field o f battle the speed of the horses and the pluck of the men would doub tless achieve u great things for the moment but they co ld not endure, they could not follow up , they could not come again . All other reforms in our cavalry will be useless u nless this important point be looked to . It is building a house o n h the sand to organize cavalry without good orses . Governmen t alone could wo rk the necessary reform by importing stallions and m a res of Eastern blood for the purpose of breeding troop horses a n d chargers for the o f cavalry of England . I had heard fine horses in Rus ‘ n t sia , but I complace ly said to myself, Whatever they t ’ H 1 are they canno be as good as the English . owever, t o went Russia, and seeing is believing . Their horse artillery and cavalry are far better mounted than ours ; and their horses are immeasurably superior in those qual

- ities which constitute the true war horse, namely, cour t o f age , cons itutional vigor, strength limb and great ” o f n power endurance u der fatigue and privation . ‘ It would certainly be v e ry h a r d to reconcile these t wo a s r s t o opinions coming f om the ame writer . It goes show how prematurely a man can m ake up his mind to becom e an autho r o n the strength o f his theories o r p a r

$ No s t a i h t-s h u e e h s e u h e a s u e s s u a e s te e e - h a s e r r g o ld r d or co ld cc f l r c r or pl c . for i t i s o n e of th e m ost i nd i sp e n s a bl e form a ti on s i n a fa st h ors e or j um p e r t o h a ve a n i ue s h u e A s t a i h t s h u e m e a n s a s h t s t e a nd a e s obl q o ld r . r g o ld r or rid , r c r — t h s h ort s tri de s a re di s ta n ce d a n d g e t run o ff th e t urn $AU TH O R E E H S E S AS T RN O R . 83 ti a li ti e s n o r , and thus ventilate his opi ions prejudices to o f a world men of experience , hard practical knowledge i and common sense . We cannot always rely upon op nions o n f o r o b se r based practical knowledge in some matters , vation and even actual contact with things make various m d o r i pressions, according to the isposition , experience d education of the person , and in eed frequently gives u n wrong notions, which , while they tend to puzzle the d o f initiate , are nevertheless easily unraveled by men n n natural and varied trai i g, who have been set right themselv es by the knowledge and judgmen t of others as t D ’1 8 well as those of heir own . But General umas 0 - u miles in twenty fo r hours , for cavalry, would be seven o n e - and half miles per hour that is doubtful, for there m a n is no horse can walk as fast as a , and few if any o n could accomplish it a stony desert . N olan was a young man when he wrote his book, and his opinio n respecting the ability of the English horse to t compete wi h the horses of all nations in everything, wherever found , changed as he visited other countries and saw for himself the superiority of other breeds o f horses for services and feats that he acknowledges the h m English horse could not accomplis . He ight as well tell us that a black - a n d-tan could as easily get into the

- th e rat hole as rat, as to say that an English cavalry horse could compete with a m ustang in fighting a mad - o r t bull , galloping round a wheel barrow, in traveling six y f o r n t miles a day on prairie grass feed . Nola cer ainly took the bit in his teeth and ran away with his praise of th e h h i s se n English horse , as he did wit sub que t de o f n o un c e m e n t o f the same animal . The forte the English cavalry horse is to go ahead and charge through o r w over all opposition , but hen he is required to compete o r i n with the Arab the mustang their performances, he must be remodeled a n d taught subjec tion to a different n bit from the o n e h e yields to o w . H E D E 84 T BRI L BITS .

’ We would not have n oticed the gallant captain s r e o n f o r a marks the English horse , but the advant ge it gives us i n dra wm g a line between the Englis h breeds of h horses and those of other countries , in bot their actions and government i n their respective and appropriate vo cations under the saddle . Other remarks of the captain ’ on this subject S how that the Eastern horseman s a dva n tage over th e European cavalry soldier is due to his sharp h sword and small, active horse , t at is perfectly obedient i t t to the b and performs in propor ion to his size . The value of the English horse is from five hundred to one thousand dollars, while that of the mustang (that can

fi . beat him) is fteen dollars Adieu , captain . To bring a horse o f a thousand pounds to a dead stand still from almost full speed, turn round and charge to the rear as easily as one can a small cat o f a mustan g or i n Arab , is sheer nonsense to assert and it is such per f o rm a n c e s that the English or American horse o f the cavalry standard is helpless compared with the small, acti ve horse who has degenerated to four or five hundred i t s n pounds weight from ancestor, the famous Andalusia t i n breed , imported by Cor es and occasionally abandoned d l the desert, where his escendents now roam in wi d n c h ro 0 bands and supply the r a e with fresh stock . N large horse could be reined up suddenly without damage to t himself or something else in some shape, and it is agains cavalry composed of such horses that light cavalry is so d t o effective , and can be so annoying by ashing and from

- h h i l them as the gad fly does to the o r se m se f . Even in single combat the small , light horse has the advantage in n bei g able to attack, rushing up , delivering a blow and t then re reating at full speed , and when his pursuer is w o u t r d a n d dra n at full speed also , he tu ns short roun ’ o n lets the large horse , that can t stop suddenly , gallop An d b to his rear . where is the small horse y the time his pursuer is turned round P At his heels . E H O E E AS T RN RS S . 85

It is in this kind o f performance that the mustang and x the small Eastern horse e cels the English , which Cap tain Nolan proposes to improve by the impor tation o f stallions and mares of the Eastern breeds . But this h a s been done long ago, and long before the captain was born . f o r D The experience was favorable, the arly Arabian and others were the result of such enterprises . We have rid th e o f den hunters by famous Escape, out Arabian blood ’ n also hunters by Sir Francis , who kept the $ ueen s Cou ty challenge cup for five years against all comers , and in all e thes performances the cross with the Arab horse told . t n — It was this impor ation of foreig blood the Norman , Tartar and Arab— that has made the English horse what t h e he is under saddle as a hunter, racer and steeple

h . chaser, and as whic he is king T h e di fli c u lty of stopping any thing of great weigh t is demonstrated in various ways . The projectile of a ton weigh t will bury itself sixty feet in a m ound of sand ; but

- to n i t the hundred gun from which is fired can , if ex

, posed be captured and silenced by a charge of light a n cavalry composed of mustangs , gover ed by ring bits that enable the riders to m an oe uvre round the battery and cut down the gunners . Weight is power speed is t i streng h . It is on th s principle that heavy cavalry is e fl e c ti ve f , with power , in breaking in antry squares when it is possible . One or the other must give way . Either the cavalry must be shot down and a breast work of dead and dying men and horses piled up in its front, thus n th e o r fenci g out charging ranks, the square must give l h way and e t the troopers in . It is in suc an encounter ff t as this that heavy horses are e ec ive, and in which a w po erful bit , such as the ring or curb bit, is not much u k sed till the work of brea ing the square is done , and e the m lee follows , where the unwieldy horse is at the mercy of the bullet and the bayonet, and whether he stays o r o f in gets out the square his chances are against him . 86 THE R D E B I L BITS .

Circums tances of climate and a great m a ri ti n e nati on catered to th e equine tastes o f the people of the British s I les , for, having had intercourse through trading and t su perpetual wars with foreign nations, they impor ed perior animals and crossed them with their own, and thus improved the breeds of all kinds of animals to such a degree that not only the formation a n d size are estab l i sh e d t , but the very colors of all the varie ies give them character and excellence, so that they can be identified o f as this or that breed by their flesh or color their hair . Th e superior excellence of the English horse has come

- about in this way . The saddle horse , which is bred ex n elusively for the purpose of racing, hunti g and steeple chasing (in which he excels wherever he goes, and in which we will venture to say he has no superior in any clime) , will not be improved as hunters and steeple chasers by a cross with Eastern stock, if deep chests and o r short legs are to characterize the improvements, rather t the change . Equestrian sports on the Bri ish Isles are the consequence of their having the horses to suit the purposes of the wildest ambitions in these respects . As y a cavalry horse, to carry heav weight and endure o n n fatigue lo g marches, he might be improved under o u t i n Eastern treatment , where the horses are the open di air instead of being housed up in a close stable , stan ng and lying do wn in narro w stalls and tied by a S hort hal ter so that they ca nnot lie down and stretch th e i r l e gs ’ t o r out to res them after a day s march hard ride . This ’ u alone wo ld shorten any horse s working life . The nar r o w stall i n which a horse is obliged to tuck his legs in under him , is a torture and the curse of the American h horses . Wit short legs and deep brisket the English h u t f o r n o t unter wo ld deteriorate as a hun er , he could

- - a . t ke the leaps he does now The short legged, thick set t horse is tough , hardy, durable and s rong, but the plac e to set hi m self o ff to advantage is not in taking a five -foo t o r five - wall barred iron gate . E AS TE RN HO RS E S . 87

The deep chest and short legs for cavalry marches in i t India, and taking cross country as comes in England h and Ireland, are very different things . Lengt and po wer o f limb in proportion to the size o f the body are necessary in taking great leaps, and for heavy riding A S through plowed fields . long leg is not a ign of weak t n ness, as Nolan has it , if the body is deep in propor io . The difference betwee n the build o f men compared with that o f women is evidence of this . The man is intended a n d for strength activity ; for this , his body is short, d n o n shoul ers broad and legs lo g ; while , the contrary, n n u the woma has a lo g body, narrow sho lders, wide hips and short legs . The woman sits higher than the man , m n s h while the a stands higher than e does . Her body is long and large to facilitate child - bearin g and the pro duction o f nourishment for her offspri ng while th e ’ l d man s body is arge and muscular, and place upon long legs to give him lever power. If, therefore , according to ’ n Nolan s idea, lo g legs are a sign of weakness, the whole structure o f men must undergo a transformation to ren der them stronger and more physically serviceable . But h we are satisfied with the Englis horse as he is, and while he can jump and carry his rider over six feet six n h inches we will not cha ge his contour . To show o w

fixed nature is in her laws in this respect, a man, although t half a woman , never par akes of her peculiar formation , i f s because, he did, he would be rendered usele s for the d purposes for which he was physically intende . N0 length o r size is a sign o f weakness if every other part e is in proportion . For c rtain purposes we must always t sacrifice something . If these wo horses exchanged v h places , countries and ser ices , bot might be failures . If we can judge o f the build of the horses o f the ancient Romans by the Roman sculptures a n d pictures we see o n h copied from paintings walls, and the numerous iero l h i c s o n th e g y p mettle and stone, horses were small and TH D E I 88 E BRI L B TS .

’ h - s ort legged , for the rider s legs are represented hanging ’ a n d long limp, and their feet far below the horse s i s th e th e brisket . This build of Eastern horse that the Roman s i mported and took to England in their numer o u s invasions . If we can judge by these pictures there w o r ere very inferior horses , very inferior artists, in those t o f th e Bu t days, compared wi h those present time . , o a re h wever that may be, the horses all represented with their heads well bridled in with arched crests and their o n n chins their necks , which indicates the ature and i t d f power of the b then in use . No oubt that on the re t n n q uen i vasions of Great Britain by the Romans, duri g n b t hundreds of years , ma y disa led horses were lef behind, e c u which the Britain , with his natural propensity and p ’ — liar scient ific ability was not slow to improve a n advantage t w which , when combined with good stock to star ith , and u d a genial and favorable climate , contrib ted to the evelop h e - h i s e c u ment of the English horse as is to day, and p liar abili ties have given rise to the nat i onal equestrian sports , not equaled in any other land . The English horse is like his countryman— very well while his belly is

- a n d di s full , well shod cared for, and within convenient tan ce o f fee d a n d water b u t that he can compete with the mustang in lassoing bulls and bears , carrying a man f h i s t o n hal weigh his back some twenty leagues a day, fi without shoes, food or water, ght a mad bull in a bull a n d n f u n ring, run at early ll speed against a sto e wall S n and stop hort without killing himself, we simply de y, u o n t tho t giving any opinion the subjec , for Opinions t and fac s have no connection with each other . bi t ff The Eastern , therefore, while it is most e ective in n m f o r de ha dling the s all, active horses which it was o u t o f signed , is powerless to take such action and feats o u r o f i o n o f English breed horses , s mply account their h n size and weig t , and the equi e feats peculiar to the l n British Is es and the E glish people . Captain Nolan

90 THE D E T BRI L BI S .

h if he be spoiled in handling . We ave seen some very well mouthed mules in Mexico . Most of them were reg u lar saddle mules belongi ng to the muleteers who kept o n pack trains the roads from the interior to the coasts . These animals were very handsome and well set up in their 4 carriage and style . Prior to the war of 1 8 7 with the n i U ited States , mules were driven a great deal to carr ages “ ’ t o f by the weal hy the halls of the Montezumas, and n m havi g handsome and peculiar harness , ade expressly w b m for carriage mules , they ere y no eans objectionable — as part of the equipage for, with their long ears , well h c o n si d arched necks and cropped manes , t ey attracted w crable attention from visitors , as they passed in revie around the fountains o n the Paseos and beneath the vi shades of the Alamedas . The wealthy ed with each other in selectin g and driving the finest mules they could t obtain . The severe mule bit was dispensed with af er the teams became docile and famili ar with the En glish bi t u o f w th e u carriage , under the infl ence hich m les d made a very han some appearance . ’ a t th e But things and fashions don t last always , for close of the war American cavalry and artillery horses wa were dispo sed of and found their y into cities, where c f o r they be ame substitutes mules as carriage horses . The f mules, however, were retained by those who could af ord

f o r h - to keep them t eatre going , and thus spare their horses the chances o f taking cold under exposure to the drenching sho wers that fall during the nocturnal hours t in the rainy season , when all is gaye y in the Capital , which is often knee - deep in water for the lack o f su fli c i e n t n l drainage . The cut in the mou tain, a though long, deep l o w o ff i m and wide , is not enough to draw the filth and

o f se we rs . a n d purities ages from the city , hence the con dition o f thin gs is a disgrace to the nation . We like the

- Spanish American people for their good common sense , k ind and social dispositions, personal cleanliness, and TH E M U LE 9 BIT. 1

n genuine civility and courteous politeness of ma ner, which see m really ingrain and n ational in all ranks ; but from want of domestic convenience and proper drain t i n age, their habi s, general, are simply indelicate and abominable .

TH E DO N$ E Y BIT .

The bit used with the Mexican burro (donkey) is small but o f the same pattern and on the same principle as the d t mule bit . This iscouraged beast is some imes spared a the extra torture of the hinge, and the little p tient slave, o r t h i s not much larger s ronger than the man on back, b is punched, jerked about and eaten on the rump and head with a club to enforce obedience or to punish h i m for his inability or refusal to carry his pack o r subm it to the most cruel class of men on earth to animals . Roast ing missionaries is a mere bagatelle c ompare d to the bar b a ri ty of these m en tow ards their do m estic beasts o f u f o r b rden , the cannibal has something to gain in the d $ prospect of a goo meal, while the burrero has everything to lose by clubbing the strength and S pirit out of the th e n u little animal that falls to rear in his train , being able to keep up under the burden of his pack, already h i m too heavy for to bear . d d We were once ri ing up a hill near Cerro Gor o , on the natio n al road from V era Cruz to Mexico . In advance there was a freight train of one hundred burros winding

. o u t n up the hill The freight was bar iron , about eightee n n do n ki s inches long for co venie ce in packing on the e . One fine jack was loaded out o f proportion to his extra h e strength . The consequence was that fell back in the ’ train and came under the convenient reach o f the b u r re ro s ’ m n . ffi urderous club , which , if hu g up in Mr Bergh s o ce , would eclipse any o f the choice selections exposed there as samples of stable furniture for the accommodation of the

s A s dri ve r . H E D E 92 T BRI L BITS . equine slave in in spiring him with obedience and ability ’ to do his master s work and will . This Mexican savage m u o n in hu an form , beat and clubbed the little b rro first o n e side of his croup till he almost fell over ; then he t r beat him on the o he side to straighten him up again , every blo w of t h e club weakening him the more till at o f last he fell down , and, being at the mercy the savage , o n was clubbed the head and neck , which he vainly tried w to keep out of the a v . a n d At this point, when patience ceased to control us , a n d our native blood was at fever heat , murder seemed a t virtue to restraint, in saving this poor lit le helpless ani mal from such terrible cruelty and abuse , we drew our sword and charged on the burrero wi th hostile demon stra ti o n s e fle c ti ve , supplemented by language more than d elegant, and hol ing the glittering steel over his head, impatiently dem anded instant obedien ce before th e i m pending execution o f our threats were lavished on his ’ n o w miserable pate . Finding himself in the donkey s place, he tremblingly obeyed our order to unload the ’ h i m di st r i b u t animal and let him rise . We made e part n of the cargo amo g the other burros , and reloading the victim he was let go , when he ran in among the other n o burros in the train and lagged behind more . To see di d d that he not , for revenge , repeat the abuse, we ro e after the train f o r a mile or two till the sa vage cooled h down . It is a curious coincidence t at one resolute o f American could beat fifteen these cowards, while one of them would face a mad bull that would drive twenty o u t o f Americans the arena . In traveling i n Mexico one sees many opportuniti es for practical outbursts of justifiable homicide . If our very worthy and public spirited citizen , Mr . Henry Bergh , S u v o ho ld isit Mexic and the homes of the Aztecs , he would repent o f ever having punished a man i n his native State o f t for abuse a horse, and would wish hat he had reserved D R S 93 IVING BIT .

f o r half the pains and penalties the Mexican professionals , w o f h o excel all competitors in this class athletic exercise . When the first national exhibition is held in the capital t t th e of ha fair and productive country , first premium for the most approved style o f cruelty will be justly awarded to o n e o f the gallant and mo st accomplished i n abusers of animals that favored land .

C H A P T E R X .

DRIVING BITS .

TH E BRI D O O N BIT WITH RINGS .

The cut below illustrates the ordin ary bridoon or water bi t ing used in common with cart, car, truck, wagon ,

i 27 — ID B IT ITH I S F g . . BR OON W R NG . plow and cavalry regulation bit and is qu ite mild and harmless in its general application . It serves as a mere h u d check to old and g ide the horse with in or inary work . It can be worn with the reins thrown over the hames to ’ u gather the tr ck horse s head , and set him up a little to n appear more stylish . The heavy Norma and Clydesdale s t h i s breed , now becoming so numerous and popular in l t country , are so e egantly proportioned tha this simple t d w bit, wi h single hea stall, and rein thro n over the th e u hames , serves purpose as well as a reg lar check rein u with bit and curb sed on the most stylish carriage horse . These handsome animals are so elegantly set up that they 94 THE D E S BRI L BIT . require no restraint to S how them o ff by u se of check m rein nature has saved the trouble , at least in any that we have seen .

Some horses , owing to their natural build and hang dog appearance and disposition, would be tortured by

Bi 28 —S AD D LE H S E g . . OR . any attempt at such restrai n t as is possible with even w these simple bits , and to try to make them appear hat they are not invites pity and criticism . There is nothing o f m they look well in outside a straw yard, a plow or a far t t o f o r wagon , for all attemp s brace them up style is labor lost and although high prices are frequently paid for them by men who depend on the seller for judgment and

— 2 9 A IA E H S E . F i . C g . RR G OR

l o w - praise , they are nevertheless priced plugs , fit only for common b a c k o r farm u se . Central Park abounds with o u r them . If we want horses to look well and appropri ate in harness we must select the m already made for the purpose . They must have a natural carriage to begin THE DO O BIT W H BRI N IT RING S .

i n with then they will look well any bridle, without its t strain or use o set them up . i 28 2 9 3 0 d F gures , and represent the sa dle, carriage and n o m draft horses , and amount of outhing and training ’ f o r a would prepare or fit them each other s place , in p e a ra n c e o r t t h - n p adap ation, excep ing the lig t, high stru g carriage horse that w ould suit th e saddle if naturally adapted in all respects . But to pay a high price f o r a f t plug, stu f him wi h hay to fill the harness out, bang his

F 30 —D R AE T H S E i g . . OR .

bl e ed u t tail to imitate , and p on the check rein and curb to make believe carriage horse, is a voluntary piece o f f n sel deception of the usual ki d, that creates no little amu sement among the initiated . It is with th is common bridoon bit that m ost o f our h i n orses are mouthed and broken , and in the absence 1 of the regular mouth ing bit (fig . ) it is the next best for h t e purpose . The thicker the bars the better for young m n horses, for reasons given in the chapter on outhi g . 96 TH E D E BRI L BITS .

F i 3 1 — ID N BIT ITH HALE D A S . g . . BR OO W GU R

C H A P T E R X I .

THE I I H H BRIDO ON B T W T ALF GUARDS .

The a bove cut represents the bridoon bit with half w i t th e sn a f guards , hich renders a compromise between fl e and the common bridoon with rings only . This bit n w is in commo use ith truck , car and cart horses . The excuse given for having the half guards to preven t the bit d th e u o u r from being rawn through mo th is, in opinion , a very weak one for its adoption . We should be sorry to drive the horse or hire the man who required and pra c f ticed such pulling as a means o guidance or control . What could the horse be doing that would require such hauling ? Such a driver would be aki n to the Mexican w h o w l a w o f burrero , kno s no moral in the management u n a beast of b rde .

THE D E S 98 BRI L BIT . head and neck should be exposed to the sun and air a n d o fl? a n allowed to dry, and the saddle should be taken d t e o f his back , that is scalded by the swea and h at the u t saddle and man on it, r bbed and dried, the blanke d o n opened, dried and folde anew, and then all put again .

This is refreshing, and gives the horse renewed life and i V gor .

THE M MO S A E BIT CO N N FFL .

i s 1 e e . 7 3 The common s ngle snaffle bit ( fig , page ) for single or double buggy harness, is the same as the b t t n o f th e ridoon wi h the excep io guards, and was orig i n a ll d - w e y and is still use on the saddle horse, hil the bridoon with plain rings was always used alon e or i n u common with a carriage harness bit, or the c rb bit for

- - fi riding . (See bit and bridoon , g. For the light a n d buggy horse and harness, headstall without blinds , it

r — PLAI S AFFLE . 33 . F i . N N is a m ost desirable piece of s table furni ture . Being the s i t n d i n king of hunting bit , can ever be ispensed with the well selected stock a n d well furn ished harness room in But which so m a n v men take pride . from want of prae ’ “ m tical experience and long use , a ateurs don t see why o n e bit is not as good as another and a great deal better . Figure 3 3 represents the position o f the joint of t h e bars o n the tongue . The close observer will examine the - E B IT TH E DO UBLE JO INTE D S NA FFL . 9 9 to n gue a n d sides o f the mouth to see if the pinching process of the S ingle join t has any bad or irritating eff ect o n t h e i t tongue or mouth , and if the horse takes to cheerfully, after a little use .

F i 34 — E . D L J I TE D FL . S AF E BIT g OUB O N N .

C H A P T E R X I I I .

THE DOUBLE - O IN NAF F LE J TED S BIT.

The double -jointed snaffle bit for hard pullers would e fie c t be a safe bit to use, but what it would have could l m not be known withou t a tria . So e horses might like i t h i i t m i and go well with it, w le ight rritate others and

F 35 — LE - I$N D L i . D J TE S AF F E g . OUB O N .

d i t—f o r e a promote a isposition to run away with , whil i bit may have certain and unmistakable propert es , its effect upon the moral of the horse may be any thing b u t 1 0 THE D E 0 BRI L BITS .

w hat we desire , and besides , in action it migh t n o t have

. e the effect desired All we can say in its favor is, as w — say of all bits try it . It is a compromise between the - sn a flile bi t— single jointed and the bar for, when bo th reins

— T A H E i — F i . 36 . PAN P S NAF F L . F . 37 . PANT APH I N AC TI g OGR g OGR ON .

are equally drawn , the bar link in the centre (which i s o n e - third o f the iron in the mouth) is square ac ross the m o n th n w , while the two wi gs are dra n back o n the corners of th e mouth with a pressure that m a y tend to either m adden or subdue (fig . - ffl S 3 6 The double barred sna e, as hown in figure , is a severe one and designed to master a hard puller or a horse disposed to take th e bi t i n h i s te e th a n d run away with

— - i 38 D LE A ED S AF FL E IN US E . F g. . OUB B RR N

i t . It operates in the mouth on the pantograph principle fi with double con verging action ( g. Its severity c a n d e n d o f be oubled by crossing the bars , thus having the the long u n der-bar join the left-hand guard below th e

THE D E 1 0 2 BRI L BITS .

the saddle . It is likely that the inventor o f the wire bi t w h e had one or two objects in vie when made it, namely, strength and economy, and wire to spare . Strength , in having the greatest power in the smallest possible sub i n stance ; economy, his being able to make it himself t t a m — se wi hou forging or costing nything for aterial that, m as regards its ercantile value, it could be sold, at a fi pro t, for three cents . t But wha ever the material , when well driven with a f bi t h plain sna fle , aving double guards and hung to a plain headstall without blinds , the buggy horse is the most r fortunate and should be the happiest of ha ness horses,

i 40 — E A F . . I S FFLE B I T g W R N .

h h for the ve icle he draws is the lightest, his arness the thinnest, his bit (should be) the mildest, and his work the easiest of all . In fact he need not know he is in harness, and if his driver be as considerate toward his favorite a b

- sorber of ice cream , attentions and flowers, as he should h i s n o t i t be toward horse , we do know but that is the t most complete , perfect and agreeable equipage in exis d ence . The feelings between horse and river being mut d a n d ual and undivided, the voice is heard and heede , “ c a r is always music and a charm to the listening , the h ” silent tongue and the faithful eart . And whe n we consider that the ox knoweth his owner and the ass his ’ master s crib , the horse, though not named in this con ti o n o f th e n e c , is not exempt from his due share glory T E BA H R BIT . 1 0 3 and available instincts accorded him in many passages in — the scriptures for he is spoken o f in Holy Writ as being ’ J o f a necessary figure in St . ohn s description the glories o f t d o w n i n ano her worl , while he continues to hold his this .

$ I C H A P T E R V .

THE BAR BIT.

t i t The plain bar bit has a his ory of s own . In th e early days of o u r trotting record of handed down i t in both prose and song, was used with strong pullers,

F 4 — A BIT i g . 1 . B R . purposely trained to pull the buggy or the driver out o f F o r f o r it by the bit . this purpose it was preferred its a n d d t n o f t o strength , accor ing to the disposi io the horse w a pull and have his own y , it was rendered all the more severe by having several spiral twists with sharp ridges o f from end to end the bar , so that by sawing it the horse should let go . In those days the trotting horse was trained t o pull the buggy by the bi t more than by the — n o t n o w-a - traces which would be much of a pull day s, o f f when the weight and size the buggy , and com ort of t u sitting in it , have been reduced in propor ion . The b ggy o f w w se e t o the present time is so narro that, hen we w TH D E 1 0 4 E BRI L BITS .

m e n d in one, the river and the driven , sitting side by s ide, the driven is obliged to hold on to the rail behind o u t the driver with his inside hand to keep from falling , i th e f o r o n wh le tails of his coat, which there is no room ’” S the seat, float in the passing air like an old clo ign

n - in a seco d hand J e w shop . No wonder that rotund widows have ceased to en joy themselves in buggy airings , an exercise that gave their mothers such pleas ure in good o l d times of spacious rooms and ample buggy seats , which had more room for three than the p a r ve n u p a p 'i e r m a cb é packin g boxes o f h b i t s the present day ave for two . The bar was u ed for

— 42 P ACE ING B o x G . i . F g. BUG Y

- —th t d th e a three fold purpose a of hol ing horse, steady

u . ra c ing him in the trot , and pulling the b ggy The p tice has been handed down in a direct line from other generations (patrons of the old Sp i r i t of th e Ti m e s o f ’ d ’ t Porter and Richards ays ) to the presen time, and is followed u p u nder the influence of a greater variety of bits with more or less success in individual cases . The idea w a s that a horse was less apt to throw up his h ead th and break u nder e whip, while the steady draft was on

- i u h e w a s . h s nder jaw , if purposely trained to it The Ioops o n the rein s to hold o n by served as s ub sti t tu te s for traces , and the practice of setting the fee

THE B RI DLE S 1 0 6 BIT . accomplish this we must u se and handle him with grace and skill . n o We have doubt but that a hard puller, if pressed to d v s d ba r d his speed, will ri e tea ier with a bit in a stea y n hand than with any other u der the same circumstances, i t i m o . s if trained to it But with or without rules, is p sible for a s tranger to advise what to do with a spoiled n h i m t horse without tryi g . Experiments wi h bits of u r vario s powers and qualities, by an expe ienced person , u t is the only course to p rsue . But the mou h that is trained to pull the buggy by the bit, is spoiled for a ’ h e r woman s hand, and should not be entrusted to skill

w - alone . Sometimes one runa ay is enough for a life time . There is nothing more uncer tain than the end of a good

95 . o f h t th e runaway, per cent whic acciden s are result of ignorance or carelessness of the driver ; he is n o t li ke ly to h o f to ave presence mind to observe rules , or know what or how to do in the fright a n d excitement of a dynamite dash for life . When a horse is before wheels nothing , if It possible, should be left to chance . is bad enough to t w risk the bit and reins , the streng h of hich is sometimes the only barrier between a whole family and death . But to risk women and c h ildren with a bad or in experienced d o r river, an uncertain or strange horse, or a bit that ’

h i m o n . won t hold , is placing too much reliance luck

We were once in a Long Island train of cars , when a o n t horse in a buggy, a road at righ angles with the rail t l o n road , ran away, and mee ing the ocomotive the track it cut the horse loose from the buggy and th e whole train ran between it and the horse, and while the former was d i n a n . broken pieces, the horse the girl escaped She had the wrong bit . f h 1 The use o t e mouthing bit (fig . ) is to gradually h n s t teac the horse submissio to all ordinary bit , wi hout u r sing force, for when we ide or drive out for pleasure, we do not pro pose to contend with our horse in a trial of THE BA R BIT . 7 m uscular strength a n d in the event of a defeat on o ur part, run foul of another team , or be dashed against a lamp -post and left dead or seated among the spli n ters o f a wrecked vehicle wi th broken bones . These are all p o s

si bi l i ti e s h c a ta stro h i e s . , and suc p are not infrequent o n e d They can be traced to or two causes The river, n n o t bei g a stranger, the horse takes fright, and know t t ing the voice, or the driver not knowing wha to say tha n l d o r the horse u derstands to be contro le , takes flight , b i t second , the mouth being hard and the or the arm powerless to hold him in before he gets under full head f o wn . e w way, the horse becomes his master A winters k n ago an occurrence like this too place in Brookly . A l a d v was in a carriage on her way to the Fulton Ferry .

On crossing Myrtle Avenue near the City Hall, the horses took fright and ran down the hill to the East River and n th e plu ged into the slip, where horses, carriage and pas t senger wen to the bottom , the ice closing over them . The heavy smell o f some men is very objec tionable to some horses, and they kick at and run away with them without any apparent cause . We should, therefore, have a n n o t reins and bit fit and ready for y emergency, and o f t h e i expose lives to the risk common express on , Oh, ’ ” ’ Bu t there s no danger . as that don t stop runaway n o r o r horses, repair the broken vehicle , restore life limb, ’ we recommend timely preven tives . There s always dan t t ger on wheels , ei her in meeting or following o hers , and although the best driver cannot always foresee the dan ger u w from other horses r nning away, he can al ays prevent accident s o r control his o w n in a dash o r attempt at a runaway . A gentleman who has been an o wner o f horses all his life was kind enough to show us his favorite buggy horse , f n o which he was very proud , for in temper, dispositio an d wa s a ll t m a n style he hat a could expect in one horse, and the only faults we had to find with him (in o u r mind) THE D E I S 1 0 8 BRI L B T .

t wo — o n e m were , his akers, and the other, his feeders . But d f as it is very i ficult to find horses and owners perfect, d we are not isposed to find fault . Our friend took t h e trouble to put on a new style o f bit a n d nose band wit h

. w h i s n crest strap (fig in hich he said horse we t well , a n d h e thought it was an improvement a n d peculiarly ’ adapted to his horse s mouth and temper. This kind of t o n torture is getting qui e fashionable now, even spans of buggy horses , whether needed or not but of course horses must be made to look alike by havin g the harness uniform in appearance . But the advantage he claimed was contrary h i tti n to our ideas of g a buggy horse . His taking to it

i 43 — BE T T P F . . o S S A B I g R T .

r was the deception . The horse knew and loved his owne , and consequently submitted cheerfully to anything he n did . We know what influe ce we have over every living r thing that loves us , and what power and cont ol we have w over their ills, actions and destinies but, by submitting, it is not al ways admitting that our influences are right n and used to the adva tage of the influenced . And i n this connection our friend’s h orse was willing to submit l to anything, and he might as wel , for the same reason l n n that the cu prit submits to the ha gi g process . Such mu tual knowledge and friendship as exists b e tween a m a n and his horse S hould suggest the possibility o f diminishing instead of adding instruments of to rt ure

1 1 0 TH E BRIDLE BITS .

t h h a t u r veterinary at the horse is delicate, yo r othe ’ — horse don t take cold that way Put a strange bit i n his n mouth , that he is not used to, and whe he runs away, t t o ff bang agains ano her team , and takes the wheels in the most approved style in imitation of the last occur o f d rence, sue the owner the target shot into , for amages Before this book goes to press we would like to hear the answers to these questions and give them for what they are worth for the benefit of equine arts and sciences . n - t In usi g these new fangled tortures, hat unfortunately ’ o r don t come under the legal head of cruelty abuse, the o f a o f th e cultivation the mor ls horse, through the ear, is_ i gnored, yet if an instrument were invented with a similar d t ’ t ouble action as perfect as hat of a horse s ear, a paten w ould be claimed and, if issued and science advanced, great t benefits might follow its adoption . But, like o her bless D o ur ings lavished on us by ame Nature for convenience, we become so much accustomed to their use we fail to see their advantages or to adopt a system of education and practice in rendering their utility a ben efit to our u w immediate p rposes . We will allo that the voice is i n used by some men managing horses, but the practice is so rare that we look on with great interest wh en we se e t a horse subservien to the voice of his driver . Were u the practice more general and red ced to a custom , there would be nothing more S ingula r in it than there is in dri ving oxen by the orders that every farm han d knows u so well . If the same words were sed by everybody who h In n n owned or andled horses, so that cha gi g drivers the d s t horse would un er tand wha was said , there would be no trouble about his management without the constant o f i n use the bridle . If this system be successful the ffi e t army, where any military o cer can drill any regim n , d l and any mule river can drive any mu e team , is there any n valid reaso why the horse, in his peculiar service , could n o t be managed in the same way with equal facility If TH E BA R BI T . 1 1 1

the voice is familiar to a horse, he readily obeys a par tial d whisper. It cannot be denie , therefore , that an animal a n d like the horse , so intelligent ready to serve with the u o f d o f greatest patience, co ld be relieved a great eal n u

necessary pulling and hauling , if the sense of the owner o f were as high an order as the instincts of his horse ,

to enable him to take advantage of his hearing faculty .

Before dismissing this subject, we would remind the o f reader that the hearing animals of a timid nature , such h as the hare, deer, antelope, kangaroo, etc . (t at have no i offensive or defensive means, and whose only safety is n

flight) , is very acute . All animals having their ears

close together are timid , with acute sense of hearing . i t The horse is one of this class, and is surprising to know how he can discern th e a rticulati on o f a familiar

vom e at almost the lowest whisper . The loud voice, that 5 0 0 o ff can be heard yards , is unnecessary and confusing m to horses , but it is all of a piece with the istaken idea of bawling at the S lightly deaf and to persons speaking

another l anguage . The louder the voice the more di ffi d a rti c u cult for some to understand what is sai , for the n lation is smothered up in sound . The I dia n can hear e t t the grass grow , y the prac ice is to bawl at him as if noise was equal to an interpreter . If the uninitiated only l o w knew how and gentle is their natural colloquial tone, l o w h and how it is in their tribal councils , t ey would be s fi surprised to find that a whisper would uf ce, and this

. t would equally serve the horse Even to each other, mos o r to o people speak too loud pitch the key high . The Spanish language as S poken by the Mexican Indians is very t u b sweet and agreeable, but tha by the C bans is horri le . t The ox is guided , con rolled and used entirely by the se e d voice , and it is surprising to how he un erstands several diff erent and contrary orders given at the same b time , patiently listening for more while he o eys the

first . E TS 1 1 2 T HE BRID L BI .

C H A P T E R $ V .

BAR BITS S TRAIGHT AND C UR ED WITH LI E , V , V R

PO O L S LIDE .

45 46 h These bits figures and , wit straight and curved o n S o n bars, are the Liverpool lide principle and operate n b u t di fl e r the jointless Pelham pla , in construction . o f The advantage claimed for this kind bar bit, with the h th e th e u slide, is t at bar, where g ards pass through the u d end of it, plays or slips p and own with a fall of about a n n h a se s half i c , which c the mouth, when the reins are

— — 45 I E BB O I . B IT i . L L L F . I . V O . I E P S ID E g V R OO .

S th e lackened, by letting the bit slip down from pressure o f m h o n t . i on the corners the This mprovement , by way o f bu t i t relief, is reasonable, the amount of ease might ’ o n afford would depend the horse s stvl e and carriage . If a horse carries a very high head th e p ull o n the rein s be d would ownwards and the bar , instead of being drawn u t w a s upward , wo ld be drawn downward ; and unless here a check rein used there would be very little strain o n the ff S reins in ordinary driving to a ect the lide . The check rein at A would dra w the bit up on the B u o r slide, while the rein at would draw it p down ,

1 4 D 1 THE BRI LE BITS . doub t we will be denounced by some horse - head -gear a n d inventors or fanciers, but we expect this ; , caring r do more for the ho se than we for his persecutors , we shall continue to defend him and take his part by de c la r ing war against so much unnecessary int erference with

i t - — his mouth , till is made of cast iron then we will give n up the co test .

When men , dogs, deer, fowls , all animated creation o r and horses, fly go out of a walk, they stretch their to t d heads and necks out in proportion heir spee , and as a s much in a line with each other as possible, to ensure st raight and as direct a passage for air to their lungs as — r their speed requires while the horse, f om whom so ti much speed is exacted, is ed and bound up neck and crop to such a degree that to put him on his speed would be impossible withou t run n ing him o ff his wind before he went a mile . 4 6 t t . 7 1 S The illus ra ions (fig ) from to , how the natural u n positions of the necks , heads and tails der speed . The

—PO S IT1 0 NS IN NNIN F i g . 47 . RU G. animals with their heads and tails stretched out at full h length have use for both thus eld while on the run . The tails act as r u dders to guide or steer and S teady them , and the faster they go , as in sailing, the less action o f o r S the tail rudder is necessary, and in case of a hort r i t to tu n is, by some , switched the right or left with a circular s weep to facilitate th e sudden reverse o f action f o the body to balance under the strain . It will be said th at so s mall a tail as some animals have could not aff ect t m i any mo ion of so large an ani al , but watch the trifl ng ’ motion of the tail or fin of the fish that governs th e fish s THE BA R S S A H A ND U E D 1 1 5 BIT , TR IG T C RV .

l m otion and speed in a direct or circu ar motion . The greyhound is the most perfect and posi tive example o f o f among our domestic animals this use the tail, n o which with him is long, as in all mammal a imals f n prey, requiring sudde reverse of action when under speed o n a direct course . t b a re The instinc of the , whose greatest and most th e h deadly enemy is greyhound, teaches it w en hard th e b o u n d pressed to turn suddenly round, while , being r o f u heavie and not expecting the sudden change co rse , is unable to turn so short or check his speed , and thus

- 49 48 S TR AI T J AC$ E TS . F i . . F i g. . g pas ses on while th e hare is making time in another di re c - a n d tion . See the fancy head gear steering apparatus, as represented in figures 48 and 49 they are little short o f an equine strait - jacket tha t inventors prepare f o r horses of certain tendencies that certainly h ave instinctive a n th e dr n s ppreciatio s of the cruelty of iver, and a ece sity f o r perfect su bmission to the Inevitable ignorance o f what he needs to perform his duties l ong and well .

The fine bred Norman stallion , for getting carriage 5 0 horses , represented in figure , not being put on any speed faster than a walk w ould h e a r a l l thi s l acing a n d n binding up to a fancy positio while at work , because he needs no extra su pply o f wind in his l ungs while at h i s 1 THE D E 1 6 BRI L BITS .

u t o r work, but if he were tied up and p on a trot h e 4 canter the little had would soon give out . Figure 9 S how s the style of horse that the crest strap is put on d and as may be seen in buggy driving , and how it ten s ’ to make bad worse . The horse s head is already set o n h i s wrong , which characterizes him as a poke, and while n ose is naturally stuck out and thrown upwards a s i f to ff h h e n sni the fres air, his crest, which should co vexed, u is concaved, and conseq ently the head and neck are the very reverse of what they ought to be . But this fancy torture and Tomfoolery will have its day . Is there any sense in putting th e crest S trap and its accompanying h i t on such a horse One bit pulling h i s mouth up towards

— AN TALL I N i . 50 S F g . NORM O .

his eyes and the other towards points of his shoulders , thus at right angles . The freaks and peculiarities of n a re ature cannot be ignored , and we bound to heed her n a n d suggestions , study and adopt her pla s observe her th e h laws . But course t at some persons take in this direction is as much at variance with reason as is th e hobby that they ride .

T AD I CO N R ICT O NS .

D b a c k u riving reins to pull , check rein to pull p, mar ti n a l e to g pull down , crest and race strap to hold the i t s w n ose out, curb to hold in, and all these varietie ork

1 THE R D E 1 8 B I L BITS .

‘

. f other bits sadly on the increase Every advocate o a . n e w style can give a very plausible reason for usi n g his h i s favorite torture with a horse . He drives o wn horse with some newfangled contrivance, and this is held as a o f su fficient proof its excellence . The horse learns t o t submi to it and seems pleased . Why Because he is a creature of circumstances and is glad it is no worse . His very nature and life is S lavery and submission to his ’ d driver s will and caprice and, as from frien ly familiarity he knows and likes him, he submits tamely to anything and everything he requires him to do and endure . It is this abiding love for and faith in some men that blind - fin d t o and self willed girls entertain, as they their sorrow when t ao late ; but the horse has no alternative but t o submit to physical if not to moral force .

If the horse has gone well with one bit, another is n sometimes added , and whe he learns to go gently with that, it is praised up as having peculiar virtues, that no doubt are in the horse, not in it . But innovations , t i m changes and alterations , under the itle of modern ” ro ve m e nts p , are not always improvements , though they fi are now all the go, and the actual bene t to the horse and the pleasure and convenience o f the driver are often sacrificed to this national rage after something new i n It fashion and change, not unfrequently for the worse . t h is this tha tends to spoil horses , for w ose management all the neighbors have an infall i ble remedy . As the ex pe r i e n c e d Scotchman once said Everybody con min ’ ” a u d w f u m e n age a b e e e b t the s goot er . The b e st cure s f o r for a spoiled horse is to ask a rea onable price, and “ ” th e baud w e e f e a divorce seems to be the most ff e ective . A A E BAR BI T 1 1 9 C RRI G .

C H A P T E R $ V I

N N EIN CARRIA GE BAR BIT WITH C URB A D BEARI G R .

bi t 5 1 This with the plain bar, as represented in figure , o n t h e é i n is generally used carriage, cab and coup horse discriminately . But if used with a check rein , buckled o n A n B C D E at , and the rei at , , or , while the curb and F G nf cheek strap are fast at and , there are more co using guides and restrain ts than a fine mouth S hould be sub — j e c te d to for there is a contrary action here that c o n

F i 51 —C A I A E BAR BI T g. . RR G .

o f fuses any horse of ordinary intelligence, and instead h replying to delicate touc es , that the rein alone should l convey, he throws himse f aimlessly on the mercy of the driver and waits to be pulled about by stren gth of hands rather than by magic touches or appeals to his i n te ll i u o n gence . If the check rein be sed a bit with the S Liverpool slide, the lide cannot act, for the check is o n supposed to be always the strain , and this would keep t h h i t e always tight up against the corners of the m outh . u t The check , therefore , should never be sed on his bit,

i . e . . , if the slide is intended to operate 1 20 THE D E BRI L BITS .

Th e F A B O curb at , the check at , and the rein at , , D E h ’ or , neutralize eac other s action in proportion t o the way the horse carries his head, and the slot the rein h o f is in consequently a ard pull, instead a mere hint, n is necessary and to which the horse should not be trai ed . T w o reins pulling together a t the same time and from different directions o n the same h i t i s n o t only a t vari ance with all rules o f equestrian skill and equin e manage bu t o f ment, is a violation principle in either moral o r u d a n d th e physical g i ance , , in government of men o r

t . o n families , mu iny is the consequence There is only e c helm ne essary to steer the ship, and, indeed , less force than is used in holding some horses . Almost every m a n we see behind from one to four horses uses both hands

. i m with the reins This , with a single horse , causes an perceptible sawing o r unsteady action o f the bit in the n o f mouth , occasio ed by the motion the body as the t u h n o t vehicle jol s, which , altho g perhaps known to the v th e dri er, nevertheless exists, and is so keenly felt by sensitive mouth that it keeps the horse on the watch a l l the time to know what it means and what he is to do h e n o t next . It may argued that a horse should have such a sensitive mouth this as you pl ease— you can take your choice . D E th e If the reins are on or , y work the curb , so that there are three di ff erent o p erations of the bi t goin g o n — n l t h e at the same time on the mouth ame y, the curb , v w h check rein and the dri ing rein . We will allo t at to n get up style in the horse these three are ecessary, and if a so , the horse should be tr ined to the most delicate hint n from either o e . The constant strain of the check rein at the rings that the rein is fast to, operates like a twitch o n some horses not well set up f o r harness it dis sipates m o f the sensitiveness of the outh , and a delicate touch i s the reins not so keenly felt , and a check or hard pull r d o n follows . These er ors in riving are the same prin

THE D E 1 22 BRI L BITS .

I C H A P T E R $ V I .

THE CARRIAGE BIT-AND-BRIDO O N

h n T ere are several styles of the carriage bit, but all te d to operate In the same way for t h e same purpose with

ff . 5 2 more or less e ect . Each bit (as illustrated in fig ) is m ade wi th different degrees of power in i tself while oper ating together. By having the reins buckled on the

F — I A IT -AND - i 52 AR E B ID . g . . C R G BR OON upper or lo wer slot in the guards the severity of the curb t is regulated to sui the mouth . The arch in the bar is m ore for the play o f the tongue than for action on the t h e d palate, as shown in the cavalry bit . But ten ency now is to use this bit on the carriage horse with a plain b a r S h a s without the arch or lever, which , being so light, d no power . When the bridoon is use with this bit the th e check rein is put on bridoon , and thus the bit is o f m relieved so any contrary actions , as represented in the carriage bit on the Pelham plan . This bridoon bit o n w h is used the carriage horse it a check rein only, and n o t is used in any way i n guiding the horse . THE A A E - A D- BRI DOO C RRI G BIT N N. 1 23

O E A O O F TH E DO O P R TI N BRI N .

The operation o f the bridoon with its reins is to bridle the horse up and give him a stylish carriage a n d hand some app e aranc e in keeping with the carriage and h a r o f S ness and the intention the owner, who may have pent from to on the turnout .

S E V S . D O O AND H E C $ E A A DO E D TYL BRI N C R IN B N N .

Some chicken -hear ted men have abandoned the use of the bridoon and check rein on the ground of sparing the h i m horse the restraint it puts on while in harness . But the horse that i t is put o n is generally a carriage horse f o r a n d used pleasure , that , perhaps , during only two or n o t three hours daily . As he is driven at a speed faster

- than a jog trot in the streets and parks , where style is as a n d u necessary as the airing itself, the entire eq ipage is r supposed to be as o namental as useful , the carriage horse u can as well s bmit to a little restraint, for that short time, as can the coachman who drives him and is squeezed into S - s a pair of kin tight buck kin breeches , English cattle ’ “ -u r dealer s tops , a stand p colla , white choker, and

- — stiff ened into a S traight u p and -down position as if seated — i n a garrote all o f which indicate a certain degree o f sti fl n e ss and shoddy uneasiness that is check enough for a n d u ue n i that part of the equipment , certainly to us v h u t S n e able , tra ge to sav does not excite any degre of philanthropy i n his favor .

C U A OF THE A A E O C P NT C RRI G .

When we take into consideration the adopted position h e and feelings, if not airs , of the madame who may a o f l i n r f o r d novice in the art ounging a ca riage isplay, she may be under like restraint with the horses and — d e driver, and perhaps of the three the horses, the riv r T 1 2 4 TH E BRI DLE BI S .

— s and the driven all having their re pective parts to play, ff the horses su er least .

I E E PA S S ING N R VI W . In fact all th ree must be educated and trained from early you th to perform their respective parts with th at natural ease peculiar to those whose familiarity with their stations , habits and parts , renders their positions and their movements easy, and makes them admired alike for their embellishments and their grace , so that in pass w n o t ing in revie before those whose admiration, if won de r o r , they would challenge desire to excite, they may do so with the consciousness of the ease and dignity of i n t those whose S phere life hey desire to represent .

E WE O F THE U O U J LRY T RN T .

But the master part o f this gorge o us turnout and S t passing how is the style , carriage and managemen of t h e d b bits , and their a apta ility to the horses and the w ‘ occasion . The bit and its appendages are the je elry of e rf the day on exhibition , and this cannot be done to p e c t tion withou the horses to match .

E E D N F O R TH E C A A E BR I G RRI G . Peculiar breeding for the carriage is as necessary as for d the track, field or race course, and those who iscard the bearing rein on account of its severi ty had better select horses to suit their purpose withou t i t ; a n d if they are so not judges , let them find me person who is , and if th e horses are naturally well set up with a good forehand n S they may wear, but not use , the bearing rei , thus par ’ w ing their o ner s feelings .

MATE D NOT M ATC H E D H O S E , R S .

Horses that are put together as a team because they o r are the same height and color look alike, and have

6 THE D E S 1 2 BRI L BIT .

n o w o ur h breeds , becoming so numerous in cities, ave a ’ - m a n re fine carriage, and, like a well proportioned , don t m s t m quire any artificial eans to e the up .

S O C $ TO E E D O M T BR FR .

These are the anim a ls to breed carriage horses from by proper crossings, and as men take pride in selecting handsome harness and showy bits they mu st depend on se t h t th e d fine horses to t em off, and hese are bree s to draw from . The carriage horse should have his nose o f a n d above the line his back, if well proportioned and well set up mares of these breeds were crossed with such

— F i 53 FL I C HI LD ERs . g. . Y NG d horses as Flying Chil ers , the first generation would have a style that would direct the breeder in his selection t of the sire for the nex crossing . A carriage h orse must have size to set off handsome harness to advantage . Everything must be in proportion . To cover up a sm all horse with large harness and heavy bits and heads tall is as bad taste as that of a little man o r woman wearing a big hat to make up for deficiency h u in the size or eight of the body . S ch a person looks — t like a decayed ass his head is the bigges part of him .

E E D TH E W O WAY BR ING R NG .

We are breeding the wrong way— do wnward and back u — th e ward in stead o f p ward and for ward for ca rriage . A E -A D- DO O THE CARRI G BIT N BRI N. 1 2 7

S E O R A E I N S H O - E E D H O S ES NO TYL GR C RT L GG R .

o r t - There is no style easy ac ion in the fat, big bellied, h - - l s ort legged , bob tailed cob for harness , and when we strol through a first- class h a r n e ss establishment and see the handsome English and home - made outfits for both riding and driving, we regret not knowing where to find horses worthy o f their gorgeous perfections . No dou bt there fi t w are ne carriage horses, but hey are few and far bet een . o f Instead breeding for them , they come more by chance r n th e in breeding othe stock than by desig , as is evident in various points of their formation . Thousands drift into the cities t hat should never leave the farm or the dir t ” f b a c k roads o a country . From the stock we have we could breed to suit any service, and the carriage could be u 2 2 5 suited as well as the plow . The h nter that carries d b poun s is bred for the purpose, and he rings his price . Th e necessary points i n a carriage horse can be bred f o r and produced as well as for the extra S ize of the most i o r desirable roasting p eces of mutton beef, but perhaps it u t n req ires the foresigh , the patience , scie ce and perse v e ra n c e o f n an E glishman to accomplish this . The English have brought breeding of all domestic animals S to a state of perfection . Every hape, point and size that they have developed designedly have their unmistakable d uses and values . And as the English for hundre s of years had been groping in the dark , bringing all sorts of domestic animals from various parts o f the world as means to certain ends , in which they have most certainly succeeded beyo n d t h e wildest expectations o f their enter n o t prising progenitors , we should boast of success, con si de ri n g that we are workin g i n the light and o n the h material that t ey gave us . Englishmen o f the present da y have grown o u t o f the a n d o f u ignorance, manners habits a barbaro s race, clad in skins of wild animals , fighting their way through 1 THE D E BI T 2 8 BRI L S . more powerful and more civilized nations with bow s a n d arrows and the primitive weapon s of the dark ages to est ablish a government a n d a nation with law s worthy of h o u t c f civilized man , while we in America ave grown , th e highest state o f cultivated civilization that came over and wa s landed on o u r shores by every vessel from the “ ” first voyage o f the May Flower to the last of the ” ff Oregon . There is a vast di erence, therefore, between the di fficulties and the progress o f the last two thousand years and the last two hundred . We have nothing to do but improve upon and sail the boat that En gland and other nations built, and as we have all the material nec a rti za n s essary for every enterprise , and imported to do b u t t o a the work, we have nothing to do t ke their hints ’ m t and i prove on our mo her s precepts, example and skill . Le t this principle be adopted in the breedin g regions o f t o u r the West, and eigh or ten years hence carriages will be as admirably adorned with suitable horse - fle sh as n w our tracks are o .

TH E A A E H O S E C RRI G R .

t 2 9 The carriage horse, as represen ed in figure , can be so formed and set up by judicious breeding that there would be no necessity for restraint from the bearing f o r h rein , his head is now where the earing rein would have it in its most exacting requirements ; and thus a horse can be made to order to suit the harness instead o f s i s the reverse . The harne s all right, but the horses are n o o f Is t . It awaits the advent a worthy wearer . It the u - b a l nk head with dull eye, big belly full of y to fill o u t n the harness , ba ged tail to make believe thorough

r d u n m i ti bred, check rein d awn to excess to eceive the a n d ff h i s ated a ect carriage horse airs , and tongue hang o ut o f h i s m o n th o u r ing at the side , that is entitled to — o f o f o r sympathy for, instead being in front a plow farm h e th e wagon, is wrong horse in the wrong place, and

TH E D E 1 3 0 BRI L BITS .

of a brilliant and costly home are well enough in an indoor, w n o n te r narro sphere , but in passi g in review before the wor ld S h e must be mistress of a carriage drawn by hand h t some horses, c osen and kept in a sty le and condi ion commensurate with her character and rank . To cater to h t e . this demand is, therefore, the duty of breeder The n equestrian sports, pleasures , necessities and fancies pee lia r to every nation have developed horses to suit their respective demands . In England and Ireland hunting developed the breeds of horses that have supplied this n a n d t country, the Contine t the colonies wi h the best

- th r r saddle horses e wo ld can p oduce . And although the the Tartar and the Arab can justly claim a share in the

- u production of the great steeple chaser, they f rnished only a minimu m of th e ingredients while other nations contributed their respective S hares but the Britain put

- n them together, and the steeple chaser is the productio ’ of this master- hand in the science of b re e di n gf ro m rough r mate ials to the highest degree of perfection .

V C H A P T E R X I I I .

HE E F BLIND N E T US O S O HO RS S .

The custom of putting blinds on horses i n di sc r i m i n t l t s a e y is a grea error . Carriage horse look well in - a re i m showy head gear, and handsome blinds a great th e t r provement to s yle and general appea ance of real, well set up carriage horses . But for buggy, cart, car, a n d t stage, wagon , truck general travel hey are wholly t unnecessary, and as regards safety hey are a detriment rather than an advantage . What do surface car horses ? want with blinds Horses , like ourselves , want to see where they are going, and the horse that shies proves that D ES 1 3 1 TH E U S E o r BLIN S ON H O RS . he wants to keep o u t of danger by the very fact o f his shying .

We must consider that a horse leading an artificial life, like ourselves walking in the dark in a strange place , ’ don t see what is around him if he has blinds o n and

n . is, therefore, aturally timid and careful If a horse is i t too careful and takes too wide a circuit in shying, is with the best intentions from his instincts . But beca use i t he does a little too much , and more than his driver n o t sees necessary , he should be abused but spoken to th u softly and kindly, and us enco raged, for he means no “ - d wrong . The stupid lunk hea will go so close to a w o f hole that one heel will fall into it, while the horse intelligence will keep well away from it, but not having studied geometry he does n o t know the exact length o f the axl es and the distance necessary to keep from the ’ danger . Man, himself, don t keep away from danger at a n d all times, though he has the advantage of sense reason supplied him . “ ’ The lunk - head is called a family horse th a t do n t care where he goes and depends o n his driver to look o ut d for anger, or he expects to be pulled and hauled about and guided by th e reins which supply him with all the t sense he wan s , while the intelligent horse that wants to “ ” m sh ve r t see for hi self is called a hat does care, and while he often over- does it he as o ften gets cursed at and t whipped . When horses stop wi h some drivers they are w petted and coaxed till they start then they are hipped , chucked and beaten as if (to them) for going on . If they are to be petted for what they should not do, and whipped do for what they should , how are horses to understand it

ff . A shying horse and a sulky , balky horse are di erent

Shying is not a vice ; it is more a habit than a fault, i know ng that he does not mean it . There are times ’ when a shyin g horse would save life if h e d only shy at THE D E S 1 32 BRI L BIT .

the right time and place . Our course is to chastise o r

n correct a horse , if necessary, for doing wrong, and e If courage him for doing right . he be whipped for w o n stopping, the hipping should cease when he goes , t and n o till then . To give a horse the advantage of seeing around him we would use a headstall without blinds . But we would o f make an exception the carriage horse, for we want S him for style, park how and excusable vanity, and to indulge this very harmless ambition we will admit that c o u e the carriage and p horse, for this reason , should have on blinds and let the the driver look out for danger .

C H A P T E R X I X

FE E D ING .

As the pleasure of riding or driving depends upon the willing response to a gentle touch of the reins, if properly — — held i n o n e hand and the effective to u ch of the reins d depen s upon the life and spirit of the horse, which should be ligh t and airy to render him all the lighter in a n d hand , feeding in both time, quantity quality is a very important consideration , for on this depends the o f u degree and extent his usef lness, as he can thereby be h - d h rendered hig spirite or lubberly, lig t or heavy in un m o v e th hand, willing or willing to on or to reply to e

w h o r . t n e c e s bit, ip , word spur We deem it, herefore , o f sary in connection with the use the bit , to say a few th e b words to reader on this su ject before we part . The mistaken ideas that some persons have about feed s o r ing them elves others , or their horses, is the excuse we

TH E D 1 3 4 BRI LE BITS .

superiority in other respects. These horses are so full of li fe and spirit that they becom e vicious in their stalls no stranger would venture up beside one of them with “ ” n D ? out aski g the groom , oes this horse kick But

- this comes from the temper, spirit and high strung dis positions and force that such hard a n d invigorating food e n creates, and which are necessary for these horses to able them to perfor m such wo n derful feats in the course o f r h the severe and peculia work they ave to perform . The objection to the Norman and Clydesdale breeds is in their disposition to fatten , and the evil that follows their importation to this country is the am bition of their n o t f owners to feed them to excess , as if for beef and o r work was the object in keeping them . If fattening these horses to such a degree strengthened their feet i n pro th e portion to extra flesh they carry, there would be some reasonable excuse . But, on the contrary, it weak a n d ens the feet, besides wearing them out in advance of the natural wear and tear of the rest of the horse . it is a — c o n loss to the owner for the fat horse, being lazy, is se S n - S a n d quently lower tha the properly well fed, lim lively animal, that is ambitious to get over the ground . One load more or less per day makes a diff erence in the ’ b e truckman s financial receipts but to look well, as con t h e siders it , rather than do well is error and where the leak comes in . AS a e a i a n c e regards the pp of small, short legged o n n o f Clydesdales, we admire them as wonderful accou t their extraordinary roundness and weight of flesh , and th eir apparent unconscious n ess that the only difference between one of them and a Berkshire is that one is a A a n d . S horse the other is a pig work horses , the greatest advantage we see in some of them is that they keep on little and live out i n a straw yard all winter t ff n d withou su eri g . Notwithstan ing, we value them as a mere ingredient necessary in crossing to produce a E E D 1 3 5 F ING . better and a more useful sort o f horse with more lever

F o r . power . this purpose they are invaluable When the prize fighter is trained a n d prepared for a t e n contest in which the greatest activity , streng h and durance are necessary, he is stripped of all surplus bile a n d fat ; but these men pursue a di fie re n t course and t t sacrifice their in eres to gratify their fancy . We never trusted another with the feeding of our horses without o u r personal supervision . A being akin to the man who starves himself all day , and thus loses his appetite for his dinner at nigh t and takes dinner pills to create an arti fic i a l o n e , is not to be trusted with the feeding of other ’ m s S en horses . Animals in their natural state go to leep u o r after meals . The wolf eats eno gh to last him two a n three d ys , and duri g the hours of repose he is drowsy — and stupid not because he had his meal, but because he

- ate too much at once . Over feeding horses has the same a n d o o r effect, a h rse in that state , whether he be saddle r t uck horse, does everything reluctantly except go to

S leep . We know how fashionable women dread the approach o f obesity, and with what trouble and sacrifices they try D a w h o to get rid of it . But the utchm n puts more in ’ ’ his horse s manger than he c a n eat don t look at obesity i d in that light . We once rode bes e a novice in the art o f n a t h i s hunti g, and noon , when horse gave out, he “ said he could not u nderstand why he S hould tire so s oon for the g room said he got l oose i n th e stable a n d ” o t- h had his head in the a bin all nig t . 6 D E 1 3 TH E BRI L BITS .

C H A P T E R X X .

AN NO W A W O RD TO THE CAVALRY M . The cavalry student can learn by the light of his oil

- th e t os lamp in a garret room heory of marching, man u vri n g and fighting a cavalry regimen t without ever havi ng k seen a horse, but it requires the s ill and knowledge of a practical man of long experience to keep cavalry e ffe c o n e o f tive in the field . This is the great problems in war . oe a n d a n d r e To man uvre fight cavalry we must have it , it quires the vigilant eye o f a n experienced superintending w official familiar ith the various dispositions, tempers , d con itions and constitutions of horses, to properly care for them and to see that his orders are obeyed by the men . f o r Caring and feeding all horses alike is a vital error, especially when massed i n a cavalry camp exposed to

n o f very cha ge weather, and where the orderly sergeant h a s the authority to detail a man o n raid duty while th e

u t . horse is not fit to go o . Cavalry thus dwindles away k Horses , li e ourselves , have appetites for light and heavy — feeds at particular hou rs one at da wn and another at — noon a n d properly kept horses are fed accordingly . Thus h two orses requiring different hours for feeding, if not dif

f e re n t h . food , are not fit to go toget er as a span They

a t . are mates but not matches , in constitution least If ’ h n S they don t replenish t eir stre gth together, they hould be not made to exhaust it together . In the absence of a comm issioned veterinary surgeon to a n d a regiment , with higher authority than the captains th e o f commander over care the horses , thousands died , d i n o u r were shot or left behind on rai s late war . We did not see that West Point officers kne w more or c a red more about the individual care of cavalry horses than the w h o men rode them . Their orders were more in the way of military positions , regulations and discipline, than

1 88 THE D E S BRI L BIT .

C H A P T E R X X I .

O ME U N E ES ARY T S N C S TO R URES .

Many o f the bits illustrated in this volume are i n ge n i u n ous contrivances, while they are certainly rendered n ecessary tortures by spoiling the mouth in the primary m l stages of the training . Some of the are calcu ated to ’ t break the col s spirit , owing to their effect being through u d S br te force , thus crushing and sub uing the pirit of the d h pupil instea of taming it wit his consent . The sub dued horse, for instance, is tied fast by his halter and cannot get away, but if loosed he gallops off and is men tally a n d physically f ree ; while the tamed horse is left u ntied and to gallop and sport about t h e field with his a n d l i n bu t head tai the air, he is physically not mentally n w o r free, for whe his keeper histles calls him he as h cheerfully comes back as e went . This is taming vs . subduing .

A n exhibition of physical vs . moral power over the horse is simply evidence of the di fference between art and sci n ence in his ma agement . We prefer the latter ; for the ti m e taken to effect the former depends upon the extent o f the power that the law will allow to be applied . The expert in any art or science is manifest in the ease and apparent unconcern with which he performs or aecom l i sh e s d o r p his object and this is seen in taming , ri ing driving the horse , as in everything else . But in subduing a horse with such means as are adopted now - a - day s is f t i o u r certainly outside o jus ce if inside the law . In all familiarity with th e horse we never saw any that required them o r could be better managed with them than with i o f i nstruments less complicat ons and severity . Of course O M E U E C ES S A O TU E S NN RY T R R S . 1 3 9

t t horses will, if they must, go wi h hem or any kind in a sort ’ o f m way but they don t make the outh , and what sense m o f o r there is in aking some them , what could make a n th mouth to require them, would be developed o ly in e ’

s . hor e s history We give them , however, as samples (and could multiply them by the score) to S how what it is pos di fle re n c e sible to get up, and the between what can and

— 54 a S T LE O F TH I BI T. F i g. Y MOU NG what should be used in reason— from the regular mouth ing bit for the colt to the bit n ecessary for the spoiled horse or o n e o f riper years . Before firing o u r parting shot we will have a few words

o u r - with the reader , as we take stirrup cup, about the samples of bi ts illustrated herewith . Figures 5 4 and 5 5 e t b th look v ery pr t y . They are su stitutes for e regular

—NEw S TYLE O F THIN B I T F A L F i 55 . O R C T g . MOU G O .

i a n d d mouthing h t (fig . were invente and pushed into “ the trade as modern improvements . The men who heard of b u t never saw a proper mouthing bit are apt to w use them . They tend to sho to what extent people will go to run or rui n a good thing th at may be useful and 1 40 THE D E BRI L BITS . effective to a certai n extent in proportio n to its capaci t — y neither more nor less than it should be . Th e harmony in the effect of all we put on or do, in — training a young horse, should be in proportion as are the peculiar colors i n a painting that make it effective and pleasing to the eye . The weight, strength and power o f each part in a machine must harmonize to be eff ective ’ l n and durable . To p ease a ma s feelings, as well as his fancy, the tailor must make his whole suit to fit easy and his hat and boots must be in character with the work h e — l does or dr ess clothes he wears . To p ease and manage the horse effectively everyt hing o n him must fit easy and with uniform pressure— for a hole less or more on a o f o n e o r buckle , or the position the saddle inch more less (thus shifting the weigh t where he feels it is u n c o m f o r ta bl e t ) , makes a grea difference in the ease with which he does his work , all day . l We know how hard, if not impossib e, it is to have our h t h a put on by another person to suit us . Yet the orse has his heads tall put on with his forelock and mane all u wa s tangled p, as if anything, in any way, good enough t f fi t o f for a horse . He is qui e as di ficult to suit in the his headstall and harness as we are in our clothes , and the capacity of his h i t m u st be taken into consideration and suited to his disposition . But the tendency is to overdo a good thing . In fashion and dress it is run to n excess , and certainly ofte to the detriment of the wearer, ’ a n d who , for fashion s sake , changes the whole character Th e grace of the person . bustle of the present time is en larged beyond the license and to a degree amounting t to indelicacy, thus designedly drawing attention to a par o f the person that neither the observer nor observed would li ke to name by any term by which the medical facul ty o r h o w l e a sl knows conceals it . We know desirable and p i n g a little dash of scarl et or red is in a picture . On this n a overdo e principle we see brick houses, alre dy all red,

TH E D E S 1 42 BRI L BIT .

Figure 5 6 has a shifting motion across the mouth from side to side , as one or the other rein is drawn , and, act t h e 5 7 ing like a gag, is very annoying to horse . Figure , n ffl the expa sion sna e, has only one action , as both reins

F i 5 6 — F . . S HI TI B IT g NG .

— are drawn that of Opening in the centre of the bar and, h o n e d i t s e t o r w en rein is rawn , eff ct in the mouth is so m n ti n t o e g as to make a horse m a d enough do anything . 5 8 o f Figure is a piece with others . Its power depends w on which ring the reins are buckled on . The lower do n the ring is that is used, the greater the power over the

5 7 —E $ PA S I O S NAEF LE F i g . . N N .

— th e horse for the whole bit being inflexible, the strain on lowest ring throws the arched bar hard against the palate 9 and thus forces the mouth Open . Figure 5 represents th e best made and handsomest bit o f its class we ever 1 43 S OME U NNE CES S ARY TO RT URE S .

d u saw . It is a cre it to the man facturer, and as a cavalry bit , so far as its power goes , it has no superior for the horse and hand it would suit .

F i 5 8 — - - T . F . E T ME NO g ORG .

y If, by an thing we have said in this volume denu ncia o f we tory the use of any bit, may injure its manufacture o r sale, we have done so in the interest of the horse and

—A FI E A AL B F i . 5 9 C IT g . N V RY .

w o u r his o ner and not in own, nor to the in tentional prej u di ce o f any individual . J US T P U B LIS HE D .

’ P R O F . O S C A R R . G L E A S O N S NE W H O R S E B O O $ . a sinus arses

B P ro f e s s o r O S C A R R . G LE A y S O N, T HE R E W ED H O RS E A I E NO N T R N R .

In a ti n t o ul i e ti n s Ha n li n i i us H s e s B e a k i n C ts ddi o f l d r c o for d g V c o or , r g ol e tc th e v u m e m i s e s v e y i n st ruc n v e h a t e s o n T e a h i n H se s T i k s ol co pr r c p r c g or r c , ’ Ho w to t e t h e A e H se s H se S h t In D i se a se s a i e s E u e s t ri a n ll g of or , —or o g , , L d q i sm a s a i s se ta ti n o n D s Ho w t o T e a h t h e m a n d Ho w to T e a t th e i ; l o d r o og c , r r Di s e a s e s T h i s w k wi l u n u t e a tt a t w i e a tt e n ti n a n d m ust r v e . or l do b dly r c d o , p o s a n d va ue to m i a s h s e w n e rs a n d h a n e rs I ts of pe ci a l i n te re s t l y r d of or o dl . a u t h or i s b e y on d q u e sti on t h e m os t com pl e te e xpe rt i n h a n dl i n g h orse s i n th i s

u n t a n d h e n e th e e s t a ut h i t o n t h e sub e c t . co ry , c b or y J

H 2 m - I US T ATED C O T 1 o . ICE O S T A D LL R L , PR , P P I ,

T h e Pe rc h e ro n Ho rs e .

I N A M E R I C A , W E LD B C O L . . y . M . c E I N F R A N C , ''

By C HA R LE S DU HA YS . N E W A N D E N L A R G E D E D I T I O N

T h e h i st th e e h e ns i n Am e i a th e i i n e a si n u a i t a n d ory of P rc ro r c , r cr g pop l r y h e h s e s k n L i n flu e n e o n t t th e u t a re n i se t e a te b C O . c or oc of co ry , co c l y r d y WE LD w h i e th e h st th e e e It s i n s t m a ti i m v m e n t e tc s e e . , l i ory of br d, or gi , y c pro e b n D HA S t h m i n i e n h a r t e a t e M s C H A S . U e st i st u sh e r d y o Y , o d g d of Fr c a u h s w i t n u n th h s t or r i g po e or e .

S T A T H 1 E T - L U TED . C 2 11 1 0 . IC S AID I L R LO , PR , PO P .

T H E E S AD D L H O R S E .

C o m l e t e Gui de fo r Ri di n a n d Tr a i n i n A p g g. Th i s i s a r e li a bl e Gu ide Book for a ll w h o de si re to a cq u ire th e a ccom pl i sh m e n t h s e m a n sh i a n d w h o w i s h to t e a h t h e i a n i m a s h o w t o e o m of or p , c r l p rf r a v a riou s f e a t s un de r th e s ddl e .

T AT D TH 2 111 0 IC E S T - AID I US E C 1 . LL R . LO , PR , PO P ,

By P E T E R HO W D E N.

A i n a n d C m e h e n si ve u i to th e v a i u s i n t s t o b e n t e s h w Pla o pr G de r o Po o d , o n i ng Wt b a re e s se n t i a l a n d wh i ch a re un i m porta t .

- C O TH l 2m o ICE O S T AID $ 1 00 . L , PR , P P ,

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Webste r Family Library of Veterinary Medicine Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University 200 Westboro Road No r h G f MAOi 536 t ra to n ,