Chapter XXII: 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.

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.

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.