CONSTRUCTION OF CURBS. 83 



this length would have to be increased in proportion to the 

 extent the animal opened his mouth. It is therefore reason- 

 able to conclude that when the use of a high port irritates a 

 horse's mouth, it does so, in the large majority of cases, on 

 account of the bars having to bear too much pressure, and 

 not by reason of the port touching the palate. I can here 

 lay down no exact rule for guidance, beyond saying that I 

 have never found any benefit, in the holding of a puller, from 

 the use of a port higher than an ordinary Melton port : for 

 instance, that in Fig. 48. We have already seen that pressure 

 on the palate by means of the port is a form of punishment 

 which is opposed to the principles of good bitting. 



The width of the base of the port may be taken at one-third 

 the width of the mouth-piece. In making this estimate, I am 

 guided merely by the teaching of experience. 



Under ordinary conditions, the port lies more or less flat on 

 the tongue of the horse, when the reins are slack ; and when 

 they are taken up, the port and the cheeks of the bit are 

 at an angle of about 45 to the direction of the tongue and 

 bars of the mouth, as in Fig. 95. Hence, when the reins are 

 slack, the port is in the best position for the horse to get his 

 tongue over it, which is a troublesome trick (p. 278) ; and 

 when the reins are moderately tight, the action of the port in 

 freeing the tongue from pressure, is only about half that which 

 it would be, if the port was at right angles to the direction 

 of the tongue. In order to remedy these two faults, Mr. 

 Langham-Reed places the port at an angle of 45 (Fig. 96), 

 which is a contrivance as effective as it is ingenious. The 

 mouth-piece of Fig. 96 is fixed ; but that of the Pelham in 

 Figs. 63 and 64, is capable of revolving forward through an 

 angle of 45. I like the fixed mouth-piece better than the 

 movable one ; especially as the former is free from the fault 

 possessed by the latter, of being apt to pinch the animal's 

 lips, when it becomes loose, as it might do in time. Mr. 



6* 



