114 BITS AND BITTING 



that a horse is not unnecessarily fretted by links 

 becoming twisted underneath his jaw. Ordinary 

 curb-chains are single or double, thick or thin, 

 to suit the fancy of purchasers ; leather curbs are 

 sometimes used instead of a chain, and chains 

 encased in leather are occasionally seen. In the 

 well-kept harness-room we frequently admire the 

 glittering polish of the bits. Alas ! when the 

 curb or snaffle has been a short time in use, its 

 pristine brilliancy has departed, and although 

 the steel may be kept well polished, there are 

 usually an appalling number of tiny scratches. 



The secret of an irreproachably cleaned bit is 

 an expensive mill fitted with brushes sprinkled 

 with fine emery powder. But it takes almost 

 an expert to clean steel properly with this 

 machine. The ordinary groom will act wisely 

 if he ceases to scratch bits with a burnisher, and 

 uses a paste consisting of f brilliantine and J 

 paraffin. 



Now, as regards the bridles suitable for the 

 rearer, bolter, kicker, star-gazer, borer, or puller, 

 and other horses that are ill-tempered, or as crafty 

 in their own way as " The Heathen Chinee." 



Owners of rearing-horses may feel disposed 

 to try the Russian-Rearing-Bits before mentioned, 

 but they had far better send the horse to a careful 

 breaker to be cured of the vice. This bit is 

 simply an instrument of torture, because it not 

 only half maddens the horse, but is apt to nearly 

 break the jaw. Many hard-pullers can be 

 mastered by a pair of light though very decided 

 hands and a Hanoverian pelham ; but, in spite 



