The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-06-16
agricultural.
.oIssdIss and Bits.

1O III H. w.
&C., To him and several others Of
our readers,swe give the 70 lowing;
In fitting the bride, the curb-bit
should be placed so that the mouth
piece be about one inch above the low
er tusks; in mares, two inches above
the corner tooth; the bridoon touch.
ing the Ut of the lips, so as to fiji
easy, without wrinkling them /; the
head stall PARALLEL to the projecting
check bone, and behind it the throat.
latch should be sufficiently long to fall
inst below the check bone, and not
lay over or upon it ; the nose-band
should be placed low, but that must
depend very much upon the size Of
the horses mouth, and not buckled
tight; the curb when properly fitted
should be fiat and smooth in the hoi-
lowsof lips ; so as to admit n finger
easily between.
One of the first desiderate in a
horse, is a good mouth. We need
scarcely say, patience and judgement
can alone produce this in the grown
horse /; for if the colt has not this ma
turally, theseoaloneBc sH bring him to
have one. If he has it naturally, the
want of either. %liEspol il, As we
vodadp htsssaddH on the mere foaI
e use himSfo bear it, and the being
sjFthede vt the earliest period; SO
Should the tbit be put into his mouth
equally eSrdg; at first with merely a
head-stall on it without reinS and he
shruId he allowed to champ and in
fact play with it. This makes the
mouth lively, and does away with all
tendency t. that abominabIe habit OF
bearing on the bit. In proper time
the reins may be put on, and ofcourse
very Loosely fastened. Walking about
with this, sight as the restraint will be,
still it is restraint, and, without Being
Tksome, accustoIns the colt to submit
t6 the Bit. From this, the transition
To- submitting TO the hands is very
hnalf: that Is, of course, surprising
tie hands to be, as delicate as the colt 5
mouth But We have a much more
eogeht reason for beginning the bit
ding thus early all horses, intended
fof the same purpose, are not made
alike yet, With tie. exception of the
nee-horse, We wish them all to carry
Themselves alike. OF nearly SO. With
the race, provide he goes in a way that
Is long and fast, we need not give our
Selves much trouble. We do not value
him Byhis pleasantly, or even safety
70 ridg by the pleasing -style.o of his
going, the elegance of his carriage
He may Ibere Hike a bnIB and be
worth. SO, 600. If he goes fast, it
would be- most injudicIrus to risk al
terfHgi his style. merely to. make it q
handsome one. But the difference of
carriage In g the saddle horse! ladv's
horse or harness horse, increases or
diminishesz their Falue, perhaps. threec
fotrths. With them, therefore, we
cannotzEfakeito too mitch trouble or exg
ercise too spqeh patience, to bring
about the desire, and indeed indispens-
able qualifications of going handsome
ly,, safely and pleasantly.
We should perhaps much surprise
many persens bp4stating that a1horse.
IMPROPERLY 6itted, VIII Sometimes, set
himkiek4hge:sstkey may say, "yVhat
on earth has his month to do with his
keels A great deal, with some
horses They. say the devil is good
tempered when heas well pleased so
are we,s and so isa horse /; and while
heis, hegoes pleasantly and quietly.
Nov put a TOO severe bit in his mouth;
and, what is temtimes worse, put the
reins into rude hands, his mouth gets
punished ;@this naturally irriates, and
putsshimsout ofteDper /; then let any
little thing occur that at another time
he would not have cared for, in his
presenttemper he sets to milling away
at once , to take the other side of the
question; we are in general, advocates
for commanding b@fts--of course more
or less3lso according to each horses
mouth; but we mean commanding SO
farsassreiates to that horse ; but then
horses $50 bitted must be given up to
the experienced driver, not a Yahoo
with fists Ikea sledge hammer. In
single harness particuLarlX.iR hroaL
-rtvrg disposed to
kick, he should have a very seevre bit
IN his mouth, means of which, if he
begins his. nonsense, you may bring
himsup1 at. once on his launches,
or nearly on his tail. This is no
bleasin operation to him ; it is meant
as epunfshment, and; a few times repeat.
ed will make him fear to begin again.
But this.mustbej udiciously done, and
when other gentler measures fail a
herse thus severely bitted should be
driven by a man. With hands as light
as aafeather, Though, should occasion
require it, asstrong as those ola giant
Akssyere bit With such a horse, also
prevents thatpleasing accompaniment
70 Hkickiug; namely, running away, a
circumstance of very common occur
renee.
slFfe BEST bit for the generality Of
horses, IN whatever way they may be
Hsed,a is athe double bride, that is, a
curh hituand. sRaffes er, in otherterms,
MdgDHEthfszpiam or twisted as may
be Feqairedz AHyobjection tothem, on
thesc6fe6 Of weight or aincuberance to
tho sEcrtsA futile /; for if made of
goedztpE The weight of the heaviest
ofthe twowoaIduhiy be few ounces
ah4mafe@Eehts the difference of
bulk in the mouth is all ideal ; and
heavy bit of any sort is clumsy and
ungentleman-like in appearance, and
OF no efficacy as to utility. =
The saddIer has plenty of business
in his own line, and plenty of scope
toashowahis ingenuity or superiority.
but ga to a bit-maker for bits. The
saddler only buys them; the latter
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