THE LEVER, THE BIT AND CURB, ETC. 191 



should never be quite tight ; there should always be 

 room for the first and second fingers of the right hand 

 to pass flat between it and the chin ; and by gently pull- 

 ing the reins Avith the left hand whilst the two fingers 

 of the right are in this position, it will be easy to ascer- 

 tain whether any pinching action occurs, in which case 

 there is sure to be something wrong. 



As to the measure of the proper length of the curb, 

 we have already stated it generally; but each indi- 

 vidual case will require a separate adjustment, and if 

 the links be either very large or very small, it will 

 sometimes occur that the difference of one of these will 

 make the curb either too tighir or too loose ; we must 

 then, of course, try another curb. If the bit is rigid 

 or stands stiff on the reins being drawn gently, the 

 curb will be too short ; and on the pressure being in- 

 creased, the horse will almost certainly either turn his 

 mouth askew to avoid the griping action of the mouth- 

 piece, or bear back suddenly to escape it altogether : 

 we therefore give him another link, and drawing the 

 reins gently as before, we observe whether, after the 

 lower bar has moved through an angle of about eight 

 degrees bringing the mouthpiece just to meet, as it 

 were, the interior of the mouth the horse gives his 

 head gently and gradually in the direction of your 

 hand as it increases the pressure, without either pok- 

 ing his nose or shrinking back. If this be the case 

 you are all right ; but if the lower bar moves through 

 a much greater angle than the above say fifteen to 

 twenty degrees before the horse yields perceptibly, 

 then your curb will be probably- too long. 



We say probably, because you may, after shortening 

 and lengthening the curb once or twice, find that the 



