The important point regarding the use of bits is the necessity of not interfering with a young horse's mouth when he is actually jumping. There is nothing better than a good snaffle for schooling a youngster in the early stages. For this reason we find it the almost universal bridle in Ireland.

But though a snaffle is preferable for the early education of a jumper, I would seldom if ever, except for racing, continue to ride a horse in a snaffle. Many people, chiefly through ignorance, believe that a snaffle is essentially the best bit for hunting, and no doubt it may be more suitable for a rider with what Surtees described and John Leach admirably depicted as a "washball seat." But these conditions do not apply to the readers of this book.

I have seen a man ride over the biggest banks in a certain Irish Hunt, with his horse in a gag and a long cheek-bit. When he first appeared he was looked upon by the field as some mad or ignorant stranger. But after having had a good view of his heels in a fast twenty-five minutes they quickly changed their opinions, and I have no doubt that some of them at any rate profited by the lesson. This particular horse was a charming ride, bitted as he was, but unwieldy and unbalanced in a snaffle.

Generally speaking, a medium double bridle is the bit I like a young horse to go in when he is finished. This must not be understood as a hard-and-fast rule, for the severity of the bit must be in proportion to the lightness of the horse's mouth and the flexibility of his neck. I think there is undoubtedly a danger of horses, that bridle too freely and are over-bent, becoming affected in the wind. Certainly cases occur of horses whistling in a double bridle but not in a snaffle, or at any rate they are at times more difficult to detect as whistlers in the latter bit.

The young horse must be gradually taught to face his bit. If he is not up to it, he will neither jump nor gallop freely when ridden in a double bridle, but when this is attained the advantages over the snaffle are many. The horse must ride lighter. He is more easily collected, more readily brought back to the hand, and his stride can, if necessary, be shortened, the bending of the neck at the poll mechanically shortening the stride.