American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-11-20
Bits for Observation-Disclosures
rt5s Whips. s.f arr =

ARE there not moro hard mouthed
, roadstcrs than a superficial observer
would own tO--many that are so, no
doubt, by being checked-up excessively
A blOoded- horse with well shaped flex-
ible neck of itself carries the head high,
and those not so favored never will ac-
quire a good carriage by the bearing
rein. The unnatural position Of
the head and neck in horses
with short. and stiff necks, low withers
(and broad flat feet to match) can not
be materially amended by the modern
check straps forcinH the poor animals
mouth wide open whenever the head
leastwise goes down., This occurs GER
stainly on the horse firing. 1t is a very
inhuinane practice, this inordinate
short refining in and up, and unless the
driver be vigilant and holds the lines
well in, ready at a moments notice, the
weary, heated horse in stumbling has
no help at all in trying to recover itself /;
whereas the horse which is at most but
moderately checked, balances quickly
by means of the unfettered head and
neck. The bit tightly drawn up in pro-
portion as the head lowers callouses the
mouth, and renders driving not merely
laborious- especially backing without
standing In front of the team-but some
times needless1y dangerous. A COM
mon isnafiie answers for very tender
mouthed horses only. I find the curb
snaff1e (the English Pelham bit) the
next thing and short of regular curb.
The curb-spaffle is not SO well known
as it might be; therefore, ], beg to state
that to be effective and admit ample
range, the bars should be at least eight
inches long, affording from three to
four Sits for the lines to be buckled to,
with corresponding leverage. A broad
strong strap, but better a plated chain,
passes under the lower jaw, transfer
ring much if not all of the pressure from
the naturally sensitive mouth to where
less pain is felt. With such bit
carefully adjusted one may hold
the lines of span in one hand, whilst
two hands barely suffice to guide one
stiff-necked, hard-mouthed beast with
the common snaffie going over a rolling
country, down steep hills or rough
roads, Astounding maybe in loose stones
and large pebbles. The curb-snaffie
recommends itself to women driving,
and to any other person disposed to
have the lines too slack, particularly
down hill, because there is so much more
purchase and potentialized power of
control. r7ff
Letting out the backstrap, if such
there always must be, Of horses and
mules blowing, so that with The hard,
pulling in stiff soil the stra6b is not ia,
very materially eases tbds team, becau
admitting free streto ming and thrown
themselves into th q collar. Per cont
in wagons. and in very billy countr
with steep s 6pes, the backstrap Dug
to he Sndg, unless the wagon may
slowed by drag, or by locking whe
g For good, well-ftting breeching great
e enables the team tohold back. Whe
d ever practical, prefer to 60 down b
IS at brisk trot, supporting the team
d tight lines and checking the speed
g running zigzag. This is more easy tn
r resisting q heavy load crowding forwa
} at q precipitated walk.
nj l do not like driving without go
n whip. This may very rarely be needle
II yet should be there for emergenci
y since properly used it may save hum
lives, team and all. The physician
T. Philadelphia CDR. WILSON, recen
s. thrown out on q railroad crossi
70 through the horse halting, might be
), ing by judiciously urging with the VIII
8 So will spurs, with a strong switch
e whalebone, not often be required,
q their handy presence is advisable.
speak from facts and personal expe
q ence.-Cor. Germantown Telegraph.