86 BITS AND BRIDLE GEAR. 



be no uncertainty or loss of time incurred in its correct 

 adjustment. Besides, there will be no impediment in the way 

 of shortening it if the necessity for doing so occurs. In 

 hardly any case, will it be requisite to make it longer than 

 its usual correct length. Even if that rare eventuality comes 

 to pass, the curb-chain can be taken off altogether. Instead 

 of having curb-chain hooks on a curb bit, as is generally the 

 custom, Mr. Langham-Reed has them on the curb-chain of 

 a fixed length (Fig. 98). The patent "circle curb hook" 

 (Fig. 100), is a useful arrangement for making the curb-chain 

 lie flat against the horse's lower jaw. 



ACTION OF PELHAMS. 



When a Pelham has an unjointed mouth-piece, its action is 

 that of an ordinary curb or snaffle, according to the particular 

 reins which are used. When both reins are taken up, its 

 action is usually very faulty ; because its snaffle reins will 

 then, as a rule, draw the mouth-piece so high up in the mouth, 

 that the curb-chain will come on the sharp edges of the 

 branches of the lower jaw, and a downward pull will be 

 transmitted to the head-stall. Hence the user of a Pelham 

 should not tighten both the curb and snaffle reins at the 

 same time. 



As a rule, Pelhams are wrongly constructed ; because the 

 upper ends of the cheeks are nearly always much too long. 

 When the rider takes up the curb reins of a Pelham which 

 has a jointed mouth-piece, its cheeks press against the sides 

 of the mouth, on account of the presence of the joint, and 

 the width of the mouth-piece, instead of corresponding to that 

 of the horse's mouth, varies with each touch of the rider's 

 hands on the reins. 



Pelhams when used as curbs, have generally a strong ten- 

 dency to make horses carry their heads too low, apparently 

 by reason of the downward pull they exert on the head-stall 



