14 MODERN HORSEMANSHIP. 



fixed factor, to be neither loosened nor tightened in 

 changing the powers of the bit, those changes being 

 made, as I have said, in the length of the branches. 

 If the branches be four and a half inches long- the 

 bit will be powerful enough to teach the horse to 

 yield the jaw, and yet not too severe for ordinary 

 ridinof. 



The mouth-piece should have a ' port ' or liberty 

 for the tongue, of such a size that the cannons or 

 side pieces can come down upon the bars of the 

 lower jaw ; and its size will depend upon the thick- 

 ness of the horse's tongue. Experiments will show 

 what this ' port ' should be. 



In arranging the bits, the snaffle should lie well 

 up in the corners of the mouth ; the mouth-piece of 

 the curb bit should fall upon the bare bars of the 

 lower jaw, and in such a manner that the curb chain 

 fits in the chin groove. 



Ring martingales, and standing martingales fitted 

 to the snaffle, should be avoided. If, before a 

 horse is properly trained, it is necessary to have 

 something that will prevent the animal throwing 

 up its head, a leather strap may be fastened from 

 the girth to a nose band. 



Except among soldiers, where uniformity of 

 motions is required, it really does not matter very 

 much how one mounts a horse. Objections may 



