22 THE ART OF 



choose it a little slender, particularly near the 

 ends of the mouth-piece. 



Weak mouths that rest upon the bit with 

 great difficulty, however mild it may be, 

 without however beating the hand, require 

 the same species of mouth-piece as mouths 

 that are too tender. 



Horses which have the head fleshy, the 

 chest broad, the lower jaws and the tongue 

 large, bear hard upon the hand, that is to say, 

 rest much on the bit. 



It is necessary to give them a pigeon-throat 

 mouth-piece, with little iron, the space for the 

 tongue being proportioned to its volume ; a 

 slender curb, somewhat compact, because such 

 horses have their under-jaws thick, and of 

 little sensibility; a horse also often bears 

 upon the hand from natural weakness, either 

 from the feet, the reins, or the hips ; he then 

 seeks to sustain himself upon the bit ; the con- 

 formation of the bridle cannot correct this 

 fault. 



Mouths with too great a slit, require a 

 stronger mouth-piece, the curb for which 

 should be placed a little low ; without this last 

 precaution, the curb would produce no effect, 



