i68 THE COMPLETE HORSEMAN 



is a very severe bit and should never be used with 

 a noseband. 



Then there is the double-ringed snaffle, another 

 severe bit which should only be used by a man 

 with superlatively light hands, and the gag 

 snaffle which is generally used for horses that 

 bore or that are given to buckjumping. The gag 

 snaffle has two reins, one attached to the bridle 

 in the usual way, the other with a separate head 

 passing through holes in projections from the 

 rings. When this is pulled it forces the snaffle 

 into the corners of the horse's mouth and he must 

 hold his head up. I cannot say I care for any 

 snaffle except the halfmoon snaffle or the ordinary 

 jointed one, and it may be put down as a sound 

 principle that if a horse does not go pleasantly in 

 either of these he had better be ridden in a light 

 curb. 



There is a kind of compromise between the 

 snaffle and the curb and bridoon, to wit the 

 Pelham. It is a bit which acts either as curb or 

 snaffle. It has rings at the side of the bit and 

 also at the bottom of the cheek. There are many 

 varieties of Pelham, from the plain halfmoon 

 Pelham or jointed Pelham to the Hanoverian, a 

 wonderful arrangement of rings and hinges with 

 a very high port. At one time or another I have 

 ridden in most of them, and I have not the 

 slightest wish ever to ride in another. In fact 

 since I have ridden my own horses I do not think 

 I have ridden in one half a dozen times and then 

 they were on some one else's horses. Major 



