150 THE OVER-CHEOK. 



had heard about poor rich horses, and the two jogged 

 off together the best friends in the world. 



THE CURB BIT. 



(Extract from essay of E. M. Collins in the "Bar 

 Harbor Record.'') 



The curb bit is used even more than the check-" 

 rein, and many persons who are thoroughly convinced 

 of the cruelty of the latter will use the curb without 

 scruple. 



This, in a way, can be made to take the place of 

 the check, for if the strap or chain passing' under the 

 jaw is only tight enough the coveted quality of high- 

 headedness can be obtained to nearly as distressing a 

 degree as with the check. 



But at what a cost to the poor animal! His jaw 

 is all the while in the most cruel kind of a vise: the 

 action of the saliva in his mouth is impeded, niul ;i 

 quantit}^ of froth surrounds his mouth, whicli lie 

 flecks off in his nervousness. Now and then the froth 

 is tinged with red — tliis is when the bit, pressing hard 

 against the sides of the mouth, pinches the thinlining 

 to the point of drawing blood; the tongue is compress- 

 ed so that often times it is of a dark purple, or evem 

 black, and the underlip is quivering constantly, wliicli 

 alone tells of intense suffering. All these signs are 

 visible whenever the curb bit is used with the strap or 

 chain tightened. When the strap or chain is loose not 

 eo much pressure is felt, and the bit is little different 

 from an ordinary plain one. In the majority cf curbs 



