BITS AND BITTING HARNESS.
BRIDLE BITS.
The ingenuity of bit makers of all countries has been taxed to the
utmost to produce bits suited to all horses, and many are the harsh and
brutal devices introduced; but with the exception of the Mexican or
Texan bit, very few of the harsh kinds are now in use. For this reason
no attention will be paid to any but those suited to the general trade.
The illustrations show a good variety, but they all come under the
general classification of snaffle, ring, bradoon, or lever.
The snaffle is frequently defined as a bit having a jointed mouth; this
is incorrect, as the cheek piece alone decides the name, the mouth
pieces being designated as stiff, jointed, post, chain, leather, hinge,
etc. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate two styles of snaffle. The first is the
regular pattern; the second, the “Dexter;” both are made up with stiff
as well as jointed mouths. The origin of the name is unknown; but when
a bit maker receives an order for a “snaffle-bit,” he furnishes one
with cheek pieces like that in Fig. 1, the ring and bars of which are
of one piece; if a “Dexter” snaffle is ordered, it is like Fig. 2, the
peculiarity of which is the shape of the mouth piece, it being large
at the cheek and small at the joint.
A ring bit is one having rings instead of rings and cheek pieces
combined. The portion, however, which is surrounded by the head on the
mouth piece is turned so as to give a straight bearing and provide two
shoulders, which prevents the ring slipping through the hole in the
heads of the mouth piece. The bradoon bit has a ring cheek, but the
wire is of uniform thickness, and the ring is loose in the ends of
the mouth piece. Lever, or gag, bits (as they are generally called)
are made up in a variety of ornamental patterns, with stiff or loose
cheeks. The “Hanoverian,” Fig. 3, is used more than any other pattern.
For coach or coupé harness the “Buxton” is the most popular. This has a
scroll cheek and a loose mouth, which slides up and down on a straight
section of the cheek.
Trotting snaffles are made in a variety of patterns, and as a rule with
half cheeks. The “Dan Mace” is one of this class; the small loop on
the cheek piece is used to secure a cross strap, thus connecting the
two cheeks in such a manner that they act together when either rein
is pulled. The “Ben Lane,” “Dexter,” and other half cheek bits are
also provided with the loop. The various other patterns shown need no
explanation.
Bits are made of wrought-iron throughout, wrought mouth and malleable
cheeks, or all malleable. The first are sometimes designated as steel
bits; but this is a mere pretence, as steel is seldom used in their
manufacture, fine iron being preferable. The wrought bit is the most
expensive, but it is the only reliable kind, and no horse possessing
any spirit should be driven with any other. Next to this is the
wrought mouth and malleable cheek; and lastly, the all malleable, a
bit which should never be used. Some are sufficiently strong, but the
unreliability of malleable iron should condemn it for bits of any kind.
A very convenient manner of numbering has been adopted by some bit
manufacturers, by which a buyer can tell at a glance just what the
article is. If a buyer orders a No. 1336, he would be furnished with
a first quality ring bit with a ⁶/₁₆ inch mouth piece, having two 1½
inch rings. Should the number be 1356, he would secure the same kind
of bit with three inch rings; for a loose ring bit the first and last
numbers would be the same, with 24 as the pattern number. Snaffles are
designated by 52, and half cheek of the regular pattern by 53, and
“Hanoverians” by 76. A first quality loose ring bit would be designated
by No. 1246, a snaffle by 1526, a half cheek snaffle by 1536, and a
“Hanoverian” by 1766, the first and last numbers being changed to
designate quality and size. When used first, the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4,
etc., represent the quality; the final numbers, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 give
the size of the mouth pieces in sixteenths of an inch; the addition of
the fraction ½ designates a jointed mouth.
[Illustration: FIG. 1. Snaffle.]
[Illustration: FIG. 3. Hanoverian.]
[Illustration: FIG. 6. Ben Lane.]
[Illustration: FIG. 2. Dexter.]
[Illustration: Half Check Dexter.]
[Illustration: FIG. 5. Dan Mace.]
[Illustration: Ring.]
[Illustration: Check Bradoon.]
Bits are finished in a variety of styles, as follows: “Polished,”
those which are not plated, but are burnished up in the best manner;
“nickel,” those plated with nickel; “all over silver-plated,” those in
which the cheeks and ends of the mouth piece are plated; “half silver
plated,” those having only the cheek pieces plated; “outside silver
plated,” those in which the outsides of the cheek pieces are plated.
Plating with other metals is designated in a similar manner.
BITTING HARNESS.
The two illustrations of bitting harness in this chapter represent the
most complicated, though undoubtedly the best for this purpose, which
are free to manufacturers in this country. There are several patented
devices, but a description or illustration would be of no general
value. Fig. 1 represents the plain wooden jockey, the saddle to which
is made of iron padded with felt and covered with collar leather; the
ends of the reins are of elastic web. The manner of attaching, style
of halter, crupper strap, etc., are all well delineated and require
no explanation. Fig. 2 represents an improved jockey of English
manufacture; the arms of this are of gutta percha and whalebone instead
of wood; the various straps are all provided with elastic ends, which,
it is claimed, produces the desired result in a more humane manner than
when the old style, as shown by Fig. 1, is used.
[Illustration: FIG. 1.]
Another style, bearing a close resemblance to Fig. 1, has steel springs
attached to the back of the arms at the lower ends, to which the reins
are attached; the wooden arms are provided with slots for the reins
to pass through before being secured to the steel springs. The plain
bitting harness, in which the cheeks, etc., are attached to a broad
surcingle, needs no description.
[Illustration: FIG. 2.]