272 



THE CURB-CHAIN. 



" A lip-strap to a bit should never be omitted, if a horse is at all dis- 

 posed to catch at his bit, that is, get hold of the branch on his under teeth. 

 If he once does this, away he goes, if disposed to do so, for no man could 

 hold him." Charles Brindley, " Practical Horsemanship" p. 93. 



THE CURB-CHAIN. 



The only difference between the curb-chain used for the 

 driving bit and that used for the riding bit is that the latter 

 is usually made of smaller and lighter links. The pendent 

 ring, which is sometimes omitted from the curb-chain of 

 the driving bit, should always be on the chains of curb bits 

 for riding. 



FIG. 148. 



Among the common attachments used to increase the 

 driver's or rider's power of restraint over the horse are the 

 net and independent nose-band. The former is often at- 

 tached to the nose-band and lower branch of the bit, so that 

 when the reins are drawn the net compresses the nostrils 

 and closes off the horse's "wind." Sometimes the mere 

 presence of a net is sufficient to deter a horse from pulling. 

 The independent nose-band is merely to afford the restraint 



