12 HORSE AND MAN. 



is always time to slacken a tight curb-chain, which causes 

 pain that will continue to be felt by the horse after the curb- 

 chain has been let out. If, however, We begin with a loose 

 curb-chain, and gradually shorten it to the desired extent, we 

 shall avoid hurting the bars of the mouth and irritating the 

 horse to resistance, and we gain time. But if, at the begin- 

 ning of the work, we hurt or even irritate the bars by undue 

 pressure, we shall fail to obtain any of the required indica- 

 tions. By artificially increasing the sensitiveness of the bars, 

 we fail to estimate it correctly, and work on a wrong method 

 from the beginning. The bruising or even the mere irritation 

 of the bars does not disappear as soon as the work is finished 

 and the bridle taken off, but continues for a more or less long 

 period. Consequently, when the next lesson is given, the 

 bars are congested and painful. The rider will then be apt 

 to form an opinion of the effects he produces on the mouth of 

 the horse without taking into consideration that it is in an 

 abnormal condition, and he will increase the evil which has 

 been done, and he will become more and more unable to 

 correctly estimate what is the natural condition of the mouth. 

 In a word, he will do the very things he ought not to do. 

 From the foregoing observations we can see that, at the 

 beginning of the breaking, the curb-chain should be loose. 

 In fact, it is better to take it off. 



The knowledge of the mouth of a "green" horse is an 

 important and delicate matter. In order" to gently feel the 

 mouth without spoiling it, we must begin with great lightness 

 of hand, and gradually increase the pressure up to the point 

 of making the horse feel it, which sensitiveness varies in 

 degree according to the animal. If a horse yields to the light 

 pressure of a curb which has no curb-chain, of what use is the 

 curb-chain, and what is the good of seeking for a more power- 

 ful means of restraint ? 



I have thoroughly broken horses, not only for the manege. 



