PELHAMS. 93 



If we observe the action of an ordinary curb, we will 

 see that, on the reins being pulled, the forward motion 

 of the end of the upper arm of the cheek is restrained, 

 both by the curb chain and by the headstall of the 

 bridle. The longer the upper arm is, the greater will be 

 this downward pull on the headstall, which will be taken 

 by the poll of the horse, and will therefore tend to draw 

 his head down, a position that will make him " gallop 

 round." We know by experience that curbs have this 

 tendency in a marked manner ; hence the advisability 

 of substituting snaffles for them, as much as possible, 

 with horses that are used for fast work. Pel hams are 

 especially objectionable on this score, a fact which appears 

 to be principally owing to the upper arms of the cheeks 

 of these bits being almost always absurdly long. 



Pelliains. The action of the Pelham is very faulty ; 

 for when its curb reins are pulled, the cheeks jam against 

 the sides of the mouth, by reason of the working of the 

 joint, which is at the centre of the mouthpiece, whose 

 width, instead of exactly corresponding with that of the 

 horse's mouth, varies at every touch of the rider's hands 

 on the reins. 



To obviate the pull on the headstall, Lord Thurlow 

 invented a bit which differed from the ordinary one by 

 having the eyes of the upper arms of the cheeks, formed 

 in the shape of an oval to the rear. 



In the Chifney bit this objectionable pull is entirely 

 dispensed with, for its headstall is attached to a short 

 arm, which revolves on the mouthpiece, independently 

 of the cheek of the bit, to which the curb chain is 

 hooked. 



