Part 9 (1/2)

The breastplate, used with nearly all horses by women in the hunting-field, should be used at all times with a horse that is ”tucked up” like a greyhound. In fact, many riders use breastplates at all times with nearly all horses, and, except in the show ring or in park riding where they are not considered good form, I think they should be generally used with women's saddles. They hold the saddle in place, and, with them, the girths need not be drawn so tight.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BITS AND BRIDLES

1. Plain Snaffle 2. Rough Snaffle 3. Chain Snaffle 4. Bouche Snaffle 5. Rough Snaffle with Double Reins 6. Double Ring Snaffle 7. Standing Martingale 8. Bit and Bridoon with Halter Shank attached]

The breastplate not only holds the saddle firmly in place, but it also keeps it from turning, prevents the girths from slipping back on the horse's belly, distributes part of the weight of the saddle on the horse's shoulders instead of having it all on the girths, and gives the rider a feeling of security and confidence.

A few horses have such wide chests and some such tender skins that a breastplate is apt to gall them.

The best bits for a woman to use are the curb and snaffle. The curb bit in general use is of the Weymouth pattern, as ill.u.s.trated above (see cut No. 1, page 150). The snaffle is jointed (see cut No. 12, page 150).

Most horses go better with a curb bit with a slight port, such as No. 2, page 150, though personally I like the pattern ill.u.s.trated in No. 1, same page, above, quite as well, if not better. For horses with very tender mouths or with sore mouths, the curb bit may be covered with rubber. Other horses, again, go better with a jointed curb, and old horses, whose mouths are so hard that they cannot be brought back to their original condition, may require the use of a heavy port or other device which will cause them pain when the curb rein is tightened.

These various devices are ill.u.s.trated above. For hunters, for pullers, for polo ponies, and for Southern gaited horses, various kinds of bits are used, but I shall not attempt to describe them here. They are fully treated in many of the standard books on riding and do not belong in a book devoted to riding and driving for women.

I shall add a few hints, gleaned largely from my own experience, which may not be found in other books on the general subject.

The normal position of the bit, whether curb or snaffle, or both, is in the s.p.a.ce between the teeth called the ”bars,” about two inches below the eyeteeth in the mare and the tushes in the gelding. This brings the curb chain to bear on the sensitive flesh of the lower jaw where the pressure is most effective. If the curb is too high, the chain bears on the jawbone which, at that point, is only covered by skin. This skin readily becomes calloused, so that the curb chain has almost no effect.

If the curb is too low, the horse will be able to get his tongue over the bit and keep it there, so that control will be lost and the cheek straps will be too loose, and the snaffle, unless it has very large rings, may be pulled through the horse's mouth.

Many horses have a bad habit of getting their tongues over the bit. A horse with his tongue in this position is quite uncontrollable, and he must be broken of the habit at any cost. Most horses will be cured by taking up the cheek straps and thus raising the bits in the mouth. This, however, may bring the curb chain too high, as above stated. If it does, or if this method is not successful, it may be necessary to resort to one of the patterns of curb bits designed to prevent the horse from getting his tongue over, such as the gridiron, No. 12, page 150, which has a ring which is pa.s.sed over the horse's tongue.

A temporary device which may be used, except in the show ring, is to put a rubber band over the port in the curb and around the horse's tongue.

It must, of course, not be tight or it will stop the circulation, but it diverts the horse's attention and, of course, prevents him from bringing his tongue over the bit.

If a horse is inclined to lag, or go up against the bit, raise the snaffle in his mouth and lower the curb.

In the ordinary adjustment of the bits, the curb chain should be fastened so that, when hanging naturally, you can slip two fingers under the chain without disturbing the position of the bit, but if the animal has a hard mouth the chain may be tightened enough to give good control.

No definite rule can, of course, be laid down. Beginners, however, are particularly cautioned to have their curb chains looser than I have indicated, as, until they have acquired ”hands” and have entirely given up the habit of holding on by the reins, they cannot with safety either to themselves or their horses ride with the chain at all tight.

If a horse has been spoiled and his mouth is so calloused or ”hard” that he cannot be controlled even with a tight curb, and you still want to ride him, the chain may be twisted, or one of the punis.h.i.+ng types of bit may be used, such as those above ill.u.s.trated (Nos. 19 and 20, page 150).

Twisting the chain or using such a bit will make his mouth all the harder, but will enable the rider to control him.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 1. Lady's Cross-Saddle with Rolls]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 2. Lady's Cross-Saddle, Plain Flap]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 3. Light Weight Saddle, Flaps Cut Forward]

While the Mexicans and Indians use very cruel bits and ride only on the curb, they necessarily ride with light hands; otherwise they would break the horses' mouths.

If a horse pulls more on one side of his mouth than on the other, drop the bits on the side opposite to that on which he pulls. If horses have had the advantage of proper training and intelligent riding, they should have no ”mouth tricks,” such as sticking their tongues out on one side.

If they are continually fretting with their tongues and lips and heads, it is probable that there is something the matter with their teeth or that they have some soreness or irritation inside of their mouths.

Horses do not do things of this kind without cause, and as soon as anything of this kind is observed the mouth should be thoroughly inspected and steps taken to remedy the trouble immediately. Horses often have trouble with their teeth very much as we do. Usually a ”vet.”

will be able to remedy any condition of that kind, but if not, it may be necessary to call in a horse dentist. If trouble of this kind is not attended to, the symptom may become a habit or a trick very hard to break and result in spoiling a horse's appearance and manners.