324 Harnessing the Colt 



ner in which the bit and chain are arranged. If the 

 curb chain is too tight, causing pain on the surface of 

 the chin, the horse will project his head forward and 

 fret. Much care should be exercised in adjusting the 

 bit and chain so as to get sufficient power on the bars 

 of the mouth without pain on the chin. A double 

 chain worked flat is best for general use. While 

 many persons prefer a leather strap to a chain, yet 

 leather is subject to stretching and contracting and 

 is likely to become stifT and harsh. 



The curb bit is used to advantage to improve the 

 action in training and driving the high-acting coach 

 horse. The horse properly bitted with a curb bit 

 gets his head up and nose in and shows himself to 

 better advantage than with any other kind of bit. 

 The curb bit should be used only by those who are 

 familiar with it, as it may become an instrument 

 of torture in the hands of the inexperienced. 



In training a colt to the uses of the bit, a mouthing 

 bit is often used. This consists of an ordinary jointed 

 bit provided with keys at its center (Fig. 94, 26 and 

 27). The keys hang upon and tickle the tongue, 

 and cause the colt to champ the bit, and tend to 

 keep his mind occupied while he is in training. It 

 should not be used on nervous horses (p. 58). 



A sympathetic feeling should always exist between 

 horse and driver, and the proper bit to secure this 

 relationship can be determined only by trial, and 

 several changes are often necessary. When it has 



