ON BRIDLING 315 



upper cheeks of the curb-bit being long or by the 

 horse having a very low chin or by the cannon 

 being high in the mouth, and these three causes 

 may concur together. 



The cannon may be made to stay a little higher 

 or lower in the space between the tusks of the 

 lower jaw and the molar teeth through making 

 the head piece of the bridle shorter or longer. 

 The action of the curb-bit tends to bring down 

 the head and more so if the cannon is placed lo- 

 wer in the space between the tusks and molar 

 teeth and less if higher. If it is required that the 

 cannon be high in the mouth on account of the 

 horse' s tendency to drop his head the curb will 

 stay higher, but this cannot be altered. 



The curb must be smooth and of a moderate 

 breadth so as not to cause pain to the jaw for the 

 action of the curb-bit ought to be only on the 

 bars and therefore the curb ought to serve only 

 as a support to the action of the bit. If it were 

 uneven and narrow it would cause the horse pain. 

 If it is seen that the curb gives pain to the horse 

 a leather strap can be put in its stead. 



