36 



RIDING AND TRAINING SADDLE-HORSES. 



act as it should, and instead of inducing obedience, we 

 arouse opposition. The reason for the prejudice against 

 curb-bits, among those who consider them instruments 

 of iorture, is, that as they are generally used, they are 

 instruments of torture. It is impossible to ride really 

 well on an average horse without a curb-bit ; but it is 

 impossible to ride well on any horse, unless the curb-bit 

 is properly made and properly adjusted. Its importance 



f. 11. — CKIKB-BITTING. 



is sufficient to justify, a careful explanation, for which 

 purpose the above illustration, figure 11, is taken from 

 Major Dwyer's book. 



The point, d, shows the position of the bit in the 

 mouth ; e, is what is known as the ^^chin-groove," which 

 is easily seen on any horse. The head-stall should in all 

 cases be of such a length as to allow the bit, d, to lie ex- 

 actly opposite the chin-groove. This is the only place 

 where it will not do more harm than good, unless the 

 horse is remarkably well broken ; /, is the point where 

 the rein is attached, at the end of the lower arm of the 



