A treatise on the bits of horses (chalinologia) / [Bracy Clark].

Bracy Clark

Date:: 1835

Credit: A treatise on the bits of horses (chalinologia) / [Bracy Clark]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

11/70 page 11

$motion of the horse to either side, that by working on both sides they may become equally easy. We approve that pede, with one side longer rather than one perfectly round: for with it will the horse more freely be turned, and when tired with one course, he is best inflected or changed to a straight course again. Also horses are to be tried in wheeling about; but this cannot be easily or safely done in a moment, when the horse is going fast.” Xenoph. ed. cit. p. 943. Having now afforded what information we can on this instrument used by the Greeks, in order that it may undergo the investigation and consideration which it appears to deserve, for we think any hint from so distinguished a master of the art is worth recording, so we shall now, if we may be allowed in our little experience to make a beginning in this way, to form some conjecture of the nature of it, in order to encourage others to the enquiry, rather than as solving the diffi- culty, we should say that we believe it to have been simply a ring that went loosely round or embraced the lower jaw, and which reached to the rider’s hand by a cord or string, or the assistant’s by a longing rein, and, from the expression “ eTraivod^v de kcu tt)v erepopjjkjj TnSpv paWov tijq KVK\orepoie” viz. “ we approve the pede that is made unequal, or with one side longer rather than those made round.” We should be led to consider it as generally or as having been most often made perfectly circular or round, but that he preferred one lengthened on one side, which figure, we conceive, might bring it to that, perhaps, of an ovoid, or oval shape; the longer side or narrower end being used possibly for the attachment of the string, to which it would communicate a sort of purchase, and by twitching him with it at the moment he ought to begin the inflexion, a more decided impression would be produced in the direction it was employed. Perhaps this object, now it is once announced, may have light thrown upon it from other quar- ters, and finally be cleared up hereafter, that we shall desist from farther consideration of it.* Xenophon, than whom perhaps no writer on equitation ranks higher, expressly lays it down as a fundamental principle that the bit which he calls (xaXivoe) chalinos, should be formed of easy supple joints, so that its effect should resemble that of a chain, and with rather largish knobs to it, to make it the less severe probably by its more extensive bearing upon the parts. Such was the bit he used and recommended for all general purposes; but he further says, if severity be intended or necessary,“ then these knobs are to be flattened and studded with rough prominent points.” And although this severer bit be described by him fully enough for a common artificer who had never seen one to make it by, yet this rougher instrument obtains from him no properly distinctive name otherwise than as being <ncX»jpof, or hard, and the other iuaXaicog, or soft, and it is six centuries after that we find by the writings of Julius Pollux and Hesychius, that these Greeks gave to this hard bit the term \vkoq, lukos, and \viroe, lupos, after the Roman lupatum, or wolf- bit, in imitation perhaps of their Roman masters. Two centuries after this we find Vegetius, according to Sheffer’s account at least, describing these rough points as two teeth proceeding from one iron stem, “ Ferrum in modo forficis dentatumor as being like the two points of an opening pair of scissors. In a former edition of this work, of which I published but a few copies, I was led into the * Governor Pownall, and so did Beringer, consider this pede to have been a mere chain, see Horsemanship, p. 229, but from this latter part of the description, which they do not appear to have noticed, this would appear improbable, or rather impossible. B 2$

A treatise on the bits of horses (chalinologia) / [Bracy Clark].

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