BITS AND BRIDLES. 135 



about 4 inches long. If the corners of the lips become 

 chafed, I would recommend a half-moon Pelham to be 

 substituted for the double bridle, or leather guards, as 

 in Fig. 54, to be used, in order to protect the corners 

 of the lips from contact with the rings of the bridoon. 

 The curb chain must always hang outside the rings of 

 the Pelham (Fig. 31). Besides, this method of 

 adjustment has the effect of making the curb chain lie 

 in the right place. All half-moon Pelhams should be 

 made in this manner. 



Fig. 55. — Ward Union bit. 



The height of the port should be limited to that 

 which would be sufficient to relieve the tongue of 

 pressure ; and should on no account be so high as to 

 touch, let alone hurt, the roof of the mouth. The only 

 three legitimate ways for increasing the severity of a 

 curb are : (i) tightening the curb chain; (2) length- 

 ening the lower arm of the cheek-piece ; and (3) using 

 a nose band. With a double bridle, we may increase 

 its severity by using a twisted bridoon instead of a plain 

 one. 



We should make a careful study of each case, and 

 may not improbably have to try half-a-dozen bridles 



