vii.] THE BIT. 77 



(owing to the narrowness of the porte) on the tongue. 

 Outside the mouth, the hit acts on the coarse part of the 

 two jawbones, above the fine part of the chin, where the 

 two jawbones meet, where the curb -chain was originally 

 placed, and where it should act ; and I consider this sort 

 of upward grating action as calculated to excite, rather 

 than to restrain a horse. A Chifney bit, as it pivots on the Action of a 



Chifney 



mouthpiece, avoids this ; its action is quite independent blt - 

 of the headstall, and is precisely on the parts where it is 

 originally placed. 



The square-cut eye of the regimental bit greatly The loose 



eye. 



impedes its action, besides cutting the leather of the head- 

 stall ; to remedy this, about a quarter of a century ago, I 

 placed on the bit of the 2nd Life Guards what has since 

 received the name of " the loose eye," and I am proud to 

 see it still where I placed it. It was not intended for 

 common bits ; the round eye and the snap hook give 

 them perfect freedom of action. " The loose eye " has, 

 however, become common on common bits. 



A noseband prevents the cheek of the bit and of the The nose- 

 band. 



