150 BITS AND BITTING. 



far the best and most generally useful ; it is that by 

 means of which the highest results can be obtained, 

 whilst, on the other hand, less mischief can be done 

 with it than with any other. There are some few 

 riders whose seat is so firm, and hand so delicate, that 

 they can venture on putting a curb-bit at once into a 

 horse's mouth, but these are rare exceptions ; and al- 

 though, in former times, it was the custom to bit and 

 curb the cavalry remount at once and send it to its 

 work, especially in war time, this system, which pro- 

 duced almost as many restive horses as all other causes 

 put together, has been finally abandoned everywhere, 

 except amongst the Orientals, and the greater part of 

 the handling is now done on the snafile. 



The great value of the snaffle is, that by its use the 

 horse acquires confidence and insight into the means 

 by which the rider proposes to direct its motions, and 

 that it willingly assumes a steady and regular feeling, 

 the action of the mouthpiece being gentle and capable 

 of gradation ; and in consequence of its acting on 

 nearly the same part of the mouth as the curb-bit, it 

 becomes a much better preparative for the latter tlmn 

 the cavesson can ever be, whilst it can never act in so 

 violent a manner as either the one or the other. 



It is precisely for this reason that the simplest form 

 of snaffle — neither too long, too thin, nor too much 

 curved, and with only one joint in the middle — is the 

 best ; but as there is no end of fancy and prejudice 

 about various kinds of snaffles, it will be perhaps well 

 to see into the real effect of some of those varieties of 

 form and dimension that are so much relied on by the 

 knowing ones. If the snaffle mouthpiece were simply 

 two straight pieces of iron of equal thickness through- 



