74 HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP. 



mouthpiece be in width four inches inside : this, I believe, 

 will be sufficient for most horses ; since the part of a horse's 

 mouth where the bit should work is narrowest, and the checks 

 should consequently be set outwards. Let the entrance to the 

 porte between the heels be three-fourths of an inch, and the 

 porte open laterally to two and-a-half inches inside. 



But when the tongue is perfectly disengaged from the bars by 

 the porte, the horse will still defend them by drawing his lip in 

 on one side, interposing it between one bar and one cannon 

 of the bit, and pulling on one side of his mouth only. This 

 may be partially remedied by using the snaffle at the same 

 time as the curb. It is a common error to attribute this to 

 nature having formed one bar stronger, or bad handling 

 having made it more callous, than the other. But these and 

 other tricks are not to be looked upon as the results of 

 natural defects, but as habitual defences against the pain 

 resulting from a hard harsh bearing on the horse's bars. With 

 a smooth and gentle bearing, he will not take to them, or 



