[9]
But the other kind of bit acts like a chain: for only the part that you hold remains unbent, while the rest of it hangs loose. As the horse continually tries to seize the part that eludes him in his mouth, he lets the bit drop from his jaws. This is why little rings1 are hung in the middle on the axles, in order that the horse may feel after them with his tongue and teeth and not think of taking the bit up against the jaws.
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1 Two sets, one hanging to each of the two links that form the centre joint of the two axles of which the “flexible” bit consisted. They are found in both the Berlin bits.
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