86 TRAINING YOUNG 



SNAFFLE 



For training purposes the snaffle should be 

 used to place and keep the horse's head up, and 

 by being played in the corners of the mouth it 

 will prevent a horse from hanging his head on 

 the rider's hands. Some horses will bend 

 to a snaffle, but they are comparatively few. 



CURB BIT 



The bit acting on the bars of the mouth induces 

 the horse to bend at the poll, and the lever 

 action of the mouthpiece and the curb chain 

 causes the jaw to be relaxed. This bending 

 and relaxation of the jaw acts as a buffer 

 between the impetus of the horse and the rider's 

 hand. Much patience is often required to 

 obtain this required flexion. Young horses 

 should be ridden with their curb chains 

 quite loose at first or they will develop the tire- 

 some habit of getting their tongues over their 

 bits. 



Young horses should be occasionally allowed to 

 feed with their bits on in their stables. It 

 teaches them to keep their tongues under their 

 bits and also to mouth themselves freely. A 

 horse that does not froth at the mouth will 

 have a dead mouth, and instead of giving flexion 



