MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSE. 169 



reins, will " give and take," or, in other words, 

 will allow the movements of the bridle-hand to 

 concur with those of this tug or pull. A dead 

 pull may be made by bracing the muscles of the 

 hand, tightly closing the fingers upon the reins, 

 and holding the hand immovable ; but this 

 should never be done, except to convey some 

 imperative command to the horse, or when he 

 attempts to gain the ascendency. This kind of 

 pull will interfere with the natural movements 

 of the horse's head, making him move in a con- 

 fined, irregular manner, and will oblige him to 

 force the rider's hand or hands ; that is, in or- 

 der to relieve himself from this restraint, he 

 will give a sudden downward jerk of his head, 

 which may take the reins from her hands, un- 

 less she be upon her guard ; or else he will move 

 heavily upon his fore-legs, and make his rider 

 support the weight of his head and neck. 



Should the curb be used instead of the snaffle, 

 the result may be still worse ; because when the 

 curb-reins are pulled upon, the port or arched 

 part of the bit will come in contact with the 

 roof of the animal's mouth, and will press upon 

 it to a degree corresponding to the power used 

 upon the reins, while the curb-chain will be 

 forced against the lower jaw, and if this contin- 

 ual pressure or dead pull be kept up the animal 



