18 THE ABT OF 



taciied to the eye of each branch. The reins 

 are two long straps, which are attached at 

 one end to the ring and join each other in the 

 hand of the rider. 



In the English reins the second pair is 

 attached to the snaffle. 



In recapitulating what has just been said 

 on the four parts of the bridle, it will be per- 

 ceived that it is composed : of a bit designed 

 to rest upon the nether jaws at a finger above 

 the hooks, in order to make the horse know 

 the will of his rider by different degrees of 

 pressure impressed upon this very sensible 

 part of the mouth ; of two branches which 

 are levers or movers of this bit ; of a curb 

 which augments their action, and the latter 

 in pressing the back of the mouth every time 

 that the rider makes the bit felt ; in fine, 

 reins, which are the movers of all the other 

 parts of the bridle. 



The snaffle is a sort of canon, broken very 

 small, upright, without branches, without 

 nose-band, and without curb, and which bears 

 rather upon the lips, than upon the nether 

 jaw ; it is serviceable for young horses that 

 are just beginning to be trained, and that have 

 not yet had iron in their mouths. 



