BRIDLING. 39 



in the North) is best adapted to the well-mouthed and 

 tempered horse, and is the safest and best bit for either 

 road or field. Unfinished gentlemen as well as lady- 

 equestrians, when riding with double reins to a bridoon 

 bit, are recommended to tie the bit rein evenly in a 

 knot on the horse's neck (holding only the bridoon- 

 rein in the hand), provided his temper and mouth be 

 suitable to a snaffle. This is a practice j)ursued by 

 even good and experienced liorsemen where the temper 

 of a horse is high, in order to have the bit to rely upon 

 in case he should happen to pull too hard on the bri- 

 doon or snaffle, which otherwise would be quite suffici- 

 ent and best to use alone. 



The Curh, when used, should be strong and tight ; 

 it should invariably be supported by a lip-strap, an 

 adjunct that is really most essential, but which grooms 

 practically ignore by losing. The object of the lip- 

 strap is to prevent the curb, if rather loose, from falling 

 over the lip, thus permitting the horse to get hold of it 

 in his mouth and go where he pleases ; it also guards 

 against a trick some beasts are very clever at, of catch- 

 ing the cheek or leg of the bit in their teeth, and mak- 

 ing off in spite of the efforts of any rider. If the curb 

 be tight, the lip-strap is equally useful in sustaining it 

 horizontally, and preventing its drooping to too great 

 a pressure, thus causing abrasion of the animal's jaw. 

 The curb ought to be pretty tight, sufficiently so to 

 admit one finger between it and the jaw-bone. 



The Snaffle with a fine-mouthed horse is well adapted 

 for the field — the only place where I would ever dis- 

 pense altogether with the curb, and then only in favour 

 of a fine-mouthed well-tempered beast disposed to go 

 coolly at his fences. 



