THE LEVER, THE BIT AND CURB, ETC. 185 



racing purposes, wish to have a sufficient command over 

 their horses, combined with a more decided leaning on 

 the bit than is necessary for road-riding or possible 

 for the cavalry soldier, to use what we should be in- 

 clined to call a dumpy bit, fig. 14 that is to say, one 



Fig. 14. 



whose upper bar is exactly of the dimension prescribed 

 above, but whose lower bar, instead of being double 

 the same, is only about 2J to 3 instead of 3J inches 

 long, selecting some one of the mouthpieces, JSTos. 2, 3, 

 4, or 5, fig. 13, that may otherwise suit, and placing it 

 accurately opposite to the chin-groove.* Such a bit 

 would be found much more reliable than one of double 

 the dimensions that is badly placed; and although some 

 authorities recommend for such purposes an ordinary 

 bit placed a little higher in the mouth than its true 

 place, we have found it better to reduce the dimensions 

 of the lower bar, as you have always a difficulty with 

 the curb if you once depart from the rule. 



We have hitherto treated the lower bar of the bit as 

 a straight line, and this is the form usually adopted 

 in common life; whilst for military purposes various 

 curves are adopted, the best and nicest-looking being 



* A bridoon should be used with this as with every other regular 

 bit. 



