170 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



will experience considerable pain. To relieve 

 himself, he will suddenly throw his head either 

 up or down and may even rear. In the latter 

 case; if his rider does not instantly relax her 

 hand, he will be apt to fall backward, which is 

 one of the most serious accidents that can hap- 

 pen when riding. If this rigid pull upon the 

 curb be continued, the horse will be certain, 

 ultimately, to become hard mouthed, if not 

 vicious. This is a reason why so many riders, 

 though having the double bridle-reins, use only 

 the snaffle, and allow the curb-reins to hang 

 quite loosely, being afraid to employ them, as 

 experience has taught them that this rigid hold 

 upon the reins will be instantly resented by the 

 horse. Hence the curb-reins appear to be at- 

 tached to the head-gear of their horses more as 

 an article of ornament than of utility. 



In order that a lady's horse may move lightly 

 and well upon his haunches, the curb will have 

 to be employed occasionally to collect and re- 

 strain him ; and when it is managed properly, 

 he will advance in better style than when the 

 snaffle alone is used. The snaffle will answer 

 a better purpose when employed to guide the 

 horse in turning completely around, or in 

 movements to the right or to the left; while 

 the curb will answer during a straightforward 



