THE LEVER, THE BIT AND CURB, ETC. 189 



vious habits of horsemanship, there may be reasons 

 for adopting this jointed bit quite independent of its 

 relative merit. 



We would recommend those who, for huntin^s^ 



or 



racing purposes, wish to have a sufficient command over 

 their horses, combined with a more decided leaning on 

 the bit than is necessary for road-riding or possible for 

 the cavalry soldier, to use what we should be inclined 

 to call a dumpy bit, fig. 15 — that is to say, one whose 



Fig. 15. 



upper cheek is exactly of the dimension prescribed 



above, but whose lower cheek, instead of being double 



the same, is only about 2| to 3 instead of 3|- inches 



long, selecting some one of the mouthpieces, Nos. 2, 3, 



4, or 5, fig. 14, that may otherwise suit, and placing it 



accurately opposite to the chin-groove.* Such a bit 



would be found much more reliable than one of double 



the dimensions that is badly placed ; and although some 



authorities recommend for such purposes an ordinary 



bit placed a little higher in the mouth than its true 



place, we have found it better to reduce the dimensions 



of the lower cheek, as you have always a difficulty with 



the curb|if you once depart from the rule. 



♦ A bridoon should be used with this as with every other 

 regular bit. 



