286 THE TLORSE. 
widely, as there is a greater breadth of the bit at the angles. Nevertheless, 
I have known it very effectual in a puller which would not bear a curb. 
4. The chain snaffle has a mouthpiece made of a steel chain, the links of 
which may be made large or small, open or close, according to the nature 
of the mouth. It is a very light kind of bit, and many irritable horses 
which fight at more severe kinds will go kindly in it. Sometimes the 
chain is covered by leather to give the mouth still more ease. 
5. A double-jointed mouthpiece is merely a moditication of the chain, 
which it resembles in its effect. The celebrated Dick Christian’s bridle 
has a snaffle of this description. 
6. The double ring snaffle is not so much used for riding, as for harness- 
work, in which it is now very generally employed for horses which are 
not likely to be too fresh, as for instance those in omnibuses and cabs. 
It is very difficult to ascertain in what particular the merits of this bit 
consist, but that it has many advantages over the ordinary snaffle I can 
speak from long experience, which is supported by its general adoption 
among practical men. That it is far more severe is manifest, and when 
suddenly pulled sideways through the mouth in leading a horse, the pain 
occasioned is so great as often to make him run back. I believe that this 
is sometimes occasioned by the pinching of the lip between the mouth- 
piece and the ring, but this cannot always happen, nor can it take sa: 
during the ordinary use of the bit in riding or driving. 
7. The gag snafle resembles the ordinary twisted form in all but one 
respect, which consists in the different mode of attaching the ring to the 
bridle. Where it is used without a curb, it is customary to have two reins 
on each side, one of which is stitched on to the ring in the ordinary way, 
and when this is pulled, the effect is similar to that of the common snafile ; 
the other is made round for about twelve inches, and, passing through 
two pulley-like holes in the ring, is attached to the check-piece of the head 
of the bridle. When this is drawn upon, the power is greatly increased by 
the pulley; and as the direction is changed by the drag being partly from 
the check-piece, the effect is the same as if the hands were raised very 
considerably. For this reason, it is well suited to those horses who get 
their heads down, and bore upon their bits ; while, on the contrary, it is 
prejudicial to pullers who have a tendency to carry their heads in the air, 
in the attitude which is familiarly known as “star-gazing.” The gag 
snaffle is particularly well adapted to the double-reined bridle intended 
for pulling horses carrying their heads too low, which the curb has a 
tendency rather to increase than diminish. The combined use of the two, 
however, corrects this fault, and a pleasant as well as safe carriage of the 
head may be effected. 
8. The unjointed snaffle is merely a mouthpiece without any joint, and 
it may be either slightly curved forwards, or straight. Sometimes, also, it 
is smooth, and at others with rings turned on it. Very light-mouthed 
horses go well in this bit on the road ; but it is not suited for hunting or 
racing. 
THE CURB-BIT is always a lever, in which the inside of the mouth is 
the fulcrum, while the increase of power afforded by this mechanical 
arrangement is brought to bear upon the outside of the jaw through the 
medium of the curb-chain. The leverage may be long or short, but the 
principle is the same in all cases, varying in the mode ‘of its application. 
In some curb-bits, the mouthpiece i is curved in the middle, rising more 
or less into an arch, which is called “the port,” and which presses upon 
the roof of the mouth when the iever is pulled. If the horse is allowed 
