BRIDLES AND SADDLES. 



of the mouthpiece (i) is the only really legitimate one 

 for restraining the horse. 



The pressure of the curbchain (2) on the chin groove 

 should be rendered as little irksome to the animal as 

 possible, for any pain it may inflict on him will be in 

 the direction in which he is going, and hence will only 

 restrain him by making him afraid to go up to his bit, 

 while it will have the natural tendency to cause him 

 to throw up his head in the endeavour to save his 

 jaw from injury. That curbchains hurt horses, in the 

 manner described, is patent to any one who may have 

 seen how fretful and unmanageable curb bits render many 

 high-spirited animals that will go quietly in a plain 

 snaffle. They " chuck up their heads " in the endeavour 

 to save the lower jaw from the painful pressure of the 

 curbchain, while we will frequently find the part against 

 which it bears to be galled and bruised. Not uncom- 

 monly, in old standing cases, a bony deposit is formed 

 on the lower jaw, as a result of continued inflammation. 

 Even if we succeed in getting the animal under control, 

 by inflicting pain on him with the curbchain, we shall do 

 so by " cowing " him ; in other words, we make him afraid 

 to "go up to his bit," and shall, consequently, render 

 him neither safe nor efficient to ride. The habits of 



