SLIDING MOUTHPIECE. 



207 



when the reins are slackened. The horse will continu- 

 ally play with this sliding mouthpiece when the snaffle 

 only is used, or when both reins are loose : hence, in these 

 cases, its presence seems to keep the mouth *' lively." 

 But when the curb reins are taken up, this mouthpiece 

 will act the same as that of any other curb, and will 



Fig. 27. 



have no up-and-down play whatsoever. This bit, never- 

 theless, suits many horses better than the ordinary made 

 curb — seemingly, from the fact that the upper arms of 

 the checkpieces are generally much shorter, and, conse- 

 quently, more correct in length, than those of the 

 other, whose upper arms — measured from the lower 

 part of the mouthpiece to the rings — are, usually, quite 



