254 THE CHEEK-PIECES. 



used it is advisable to have the covering put on after the bit 

 has been examined and tested in order that any flaws or 

 weakness in the metal may be detected. 



FIG. 1 1 8. r 



Curb driving bits should be preferably made with a square 

 opening for a square slide, as it very often happens that a 

 horse throwing his head to one side changes the angle of 

 the cheek-piece with the curb-chain. The latter is always 

 most effectively acted upon when it and the cheek-piece are 

 at right angles to each other. 



THE CHEEK-PIECES. 



Cheek-pieces (see Fig. 114 A and Fig. 117) serve two 

 purposes: i. To offer a lever by which the port and curb- 

 chain are brought into action. 2. To act as guides by their 

 pressure against the lips when either rein is drawn ; in the 

 latter function the rings of the snaffle must be considered 

 as cheek-pieces, and should be large enough to eliminate 

 any chance of their being drawn through the mouth. 



The upper arm of the cheek-piece, measured from the 

 mouth-piece to the top of the eye, should be two inches long 

 in order to prevent the cheek-pieces from being drawn in the 

 same plane with the reins; for should this occur the curb- 

 chain would cease to act and the bit become simply a jointed 

 snaffle in which the pressure from the reins would be con- 

 fined to a direct backward pull. With a fixed length for the 



