THE CAVESSON, SNAFFLE, ETC. 147 



the best and most generally useful ; it is that by means of 

 which the highest results can be obtained, whilst, on 

 the other hand, less mischief can be done with it than 

 with any other. There are some few riders whose seat 

 is so firm and hand so delicate that they can venture 

 on putting a curb-bit at once into a horse's mouth, but 

 these are rare exceptions ; and although, in former 

 times, it was the custom to bit and curb the cavalry 

 remount at once and send it to its work, especially in 

 war time, this system, which produced almost as many 

 restive horses as all other causes put together, has 

 been finally abandoned everywhere, except amongst 

 the Orientals, and the greater part of the handling is 

 now done on the snaffle. 



The great value of the snaffle is, that by its use the 

 horse acquires confidence and insight into the means 

 by which the rider proposes to direct its motions, and 

 that it willingly assumes a steady and regular feeling, 

 the action of the mouthpiece being gentle and capable 

 of gradation ; and, in consequence of its acting on nearly 

 the same part of the mouth as the curb-bit, it becomes 

 a much better preparative for the latter than the caves- 

 son can ever be, whilst it can never act in so violent a 

 manner as either the one or the other. 



It is precisely for this reason that the simplest form 

 of snaffle neither too long, too thin, nor too much 

 curved, and with only one joint in the middle is the 

 best ; but as there is no end of fancy and prejudice 

 about various kinds of snaffles, it will be perhaps well 

 to see into the real effect of some of those varieties of 

 form and dimension that are so much relied on by the 

 knowing ones. If the snaffle mouthpiece were simply 

 two straight pieces of iron of equal thickness through- 



