BRIDLES 323 



among practical men. That it is far more severe is manifest, and wlien 

 suddenly pulled sideways through the mouth in leading a horse, the pain 

 occasioned is so great as often to make him run back. I l^elievc that this 

 is sometimes occasioned by the pinching of the lip between the mouth- 

 pieces and the ring, but this cannot always happen, nor can it take place 

 during the ordinary use of the bit in riding or driving. 



7. The gag snaffle resembles the ox-dinary twisted form in all but one 

 respect, which consists in the different mode of attaching the ring to the 

 bridle. Where it is used without a curb, it is customary to have two 

 reins on each side, one of which is stitched on to the ring in the ordinary 

 way, and when this is pulled, the effect is similar to that of the common 

 snaffle ; the other is made round for about twelve inches, and, passing 

 through two pulley-like holes in the ring, is attached to the check-piece of 

 the head of the bridle. When this is drawn upon, the power is greatly 

 increased by the pulley ; and as the direction is changed by the drag being 

 partly from the check-piece, the effect is the same as if the hands were 

 raised very considerably. For this reason, it is well suited to those horses 

 who get their heads down, and bore upon their bits; while, on the contrary, 

 it is prejudicial to pullers who have a tendency to carry their heads in the 

 air, in the attitude which is familiarly known as " star gazing." The gag 

 snaffle is particularly well adapted to the double-reined bridle intended for 

 pulling horses carrying their heads too low, which the curb has a tendency 

 rather to increase than diminish. The combined use of the two, however, 

 corrects this fault, and a pleasant as Avell as safe carriage of the head may 

 be effected. 



8. The unjoinied snaffle is merely a mouthpiece without any joint, and 

 it may be either slightly curved forwards, or straight. Sometimes, also, it 

 is smooth, and at others with rings turned on it. Yery light-mouthed 

 horses go well in this bit on the road ; but it is not suited for hunting or 

 racing. 



The curb-bit is always a lever, in which the inside of the mouth is the 

 fulcrum, while the increase of power afforded by this mechanical arrange- 

 ment is brought to bear upon the outside of the jaw through the medium of 

 the curb-chain. The leverage may be long or short, but the principle is 

 the same in all cases, varying in the mode of its application. In some 

 curb-bits the mouthpiece is curved in the middle, rising more or less into 

 an arch, which is called " the port," and which presses upon the roof of the 

 mouth when the lever is pulled. If the horse is allowed to open his mouth 

 wide, this pressure cannot be made, and the port is useless ; but the addition 

 of a noseband of leather, buckled tightly round the jaw, closes the mouth, 

 and keeps the roof in apposition with the port. Thus in estimating the 

 power of all curl)-bits, we must take into consideration — 1st, the length of 

 the lever; 2nd, the tightness of the curb-chain, which may be adjusted at 

 pleasure ; 3rd, the height of the port ; and 4th, whether used with a 

 noseband or not. 



The varieties of curh-hits in common use are as follows : — 



1. The ordinary curb-bit. 



2. The Pelham. 



3. The Hanoverian Pelham. 



4. The Chifney. 



