88 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



be used, and should be covered with cloth ; or, 

 instead of a chain, a narrow strap of leather 

 may be used, which should be kept soft and 

 pliable. The proper length for the curb-chain, 

 not including the curb-hooks, is about one fourth 

 more than the width of the animal's mouth. 

 The hooks should be exactly alike, and about 

 an inch and a quarter long. 



Some horses are very expert in the trick of 

 catching the cheek of the bit between their 

 teeth. To remedy this vice a lip-strap may be 

 used ; but it will be found much better to have 

 each cheek or bar bent into the form of the let- 

 ter S, remembering, however, that the measure- 

 ment of the length, referred to above, must in 

 the case of curved bars be made in a straight 

 line. Sometimes the upper bar of the curb-bit 

 will, on account of the peculiar form of the 

 horse's head, press against and gall his cheeks. 

 When this is noticed, most people change the 

 bit, and get one with a longer mouth-piece ; 

 but where the mouth-piece is of the same 

 length as the width of the mouth, the proper 

 remedy for this difficulty will be to have the 

 upper bar bent out enough to free the cheeks 

 from its pressure. 



The curb-bit once made and properly ad- 

 justed to the head-stall, the next step will be to 



