HORSEMANSHIP. 



With class 2, the leg is somewhat shortened, and in a straight 

 line with the cheek, the curb also less sharp and angular. 

 For good mouths the legs are still shorter, the links of the 

 curb quite round, interwoven, and of regular width. A 

 special bit is designed for very tender mouths and for colts. 

 As the curb chain has to act on the most sensitive chin, it is 

 made wide, with interwoven links, in order that the too 

 sensitive horse may bear upon the bit without shrinking 

 from or being hurt by it j in other words, that he may " face 

 his bit." An elastic curb-chain is recommended for the very 

 tenderest chins. For star-gazers the curb-chain is of the 

 same make and proportions as that for good-mouthed horses, 

 in order that the horse, which has been punished by severe 

 curb-chains and is touchy and tender about the chin, may 

 not throw up his head and carry it like a giraffe ; and that, 

 in case of a natural defect of setting on of the head, he 

 may yield to the leverage of the long legs of the bit, with- 

 out being worried by the curb-chain. In combating the 

 propensity to bore, the curb chain is on the same principle, 

 as that recommended for hard-mouthed horses, or such as 

 bear heavily on the bit, the legs being considerably shortened. 

 The ai?'b-hooks, of which that on the off side of the cheek 

 is termed the S, that on the near side the hook, call for a 

 passing word. As it is important that the curb-chain should 

 always lie on the chin — each class of bit, according to the 

 length of the cheek, having a hook of a difterent size or 

 length — the length should be measured from the point of 

 attachment with the top eye of the cheek to the centre of 

 the cannon or butt of the mouth-piece. In the proper adjust- 

 ment of the curb-chain depends the whole action of the bit. 

 Close attention to the following rules is, consequently, re- 

 commended : — See that the bit be the exact width of the 

 horse's mouth, to prevent it slipping either to the right hand 



