To Measure a Horses Mouth. 311 



This "mouth-gauge"* is made of steel, and consists of a bar, A B (about six inches long 

 will suffice), fitted on one side, at right angles, with a fixed cheekpiece, C D, of the form shown 

 by the figure, and having on the other side a sliding cheekpiece, E F, of the same shape and 

 dimensions (six inches long), fitted with a screw for fixing it where required. This bar A B 

 is made oval in the transverse section, with the greater axis about one inch, in order to displace 

 the lips nearly as the mouthpiece does, and is usually graduated throughout ; but it will evidently 

 suffice to do this with the fourth and fifth inches. 



If this gauge be placed in the horse's mouth like a bit, with the bar A B at exactly the 

 proper point (opposite the chin-groove), the fixed cheekpiece C D being then held gently up 

 to the offside of the mouth (the operator facing the horse's forehead), the sliding one, E F, may be 

 shoved up just close enough to the cheek, at the near side, not to displace the lips ; and then 

 fixing it w'ith the screw, and removing the gauge, we can read off the dimensions of the width 

 of our mouthpiece from the scale engraved on A B. 



The figure shows further a rod, G H, fitted to slide up and down the movable cheekpiece, 

 E F, which is graduated into inches and eighths or tenths on its lower limb. This contrivance 

 enables us to measure the height of the bar of the mouth, which is done in the following 

 manner : — The instrument, adjusted to the proper width of the horse's mouth, is placed as 

 before, with the bar, a b, opposite the chin-groove, but underneath the tongue, and is then 

 wheeled round on its own a.xis till the upper limbs of the cheekpieces stand nearly perpendicular 

 to the general line of the horse's nose. This, of course, brings its lower limbs in the opposite 

 direction towards the neck, and the rod G H is then gently shoved up till it presses lightly 

 into the chin-groove, taking care that the gauge stands square, and that the mouthpiece lies 

 equally on both bars of the mouth. The rod G H is then screwed fast, whilst the screw of the 

 cheekpiece, E F, is loosened altogether, so that the latter may be removed without disturbing 

 the rod G H. We then read off the height of the bar on the lower limb of E F, and have all the 

 necessary dimensions. 



"The average height of the bars of a horse's mouth is l| inches ; the upper check of horses 

 under 18 hands, need not be longer. Tins gives 3^ inches for the lozuer one, and a total of c^l, 

 measured from where the curb-hook rests in the upper ring to where the lozver ring plays in its 

 socket. 



"For ponies these dimensions must be reduced to i^ inches upper cheek, 3 inches lower 

 cheek. The curb-chain and two hooks must be once and a half the width of the horse's 

 mouth. 



" One-quarter or even an eighth of an inch higher or lower in the mouth makes all the 

 difference between right and wrong ; therefore the headstall or cheekpieces must be provided 

 with the needful buckles, if the bridle is to be used for more than one horse with a curb-bit. 



" The first grand rule is, that in all cases the mouthpiece must be exactly so wide that 

 when placed in the mouth it fits close to the outer surface of the lips, without either pressing 

 on them or being subject to be displaced laterally. 



"yi« extensive examination has shown that the width of the mouths of horses from 15.1 to 15.3 

 averages four inches, a fetv very large ones went up to four inches and a half, ivhile very snmll 

 light horses did not exceed three inches and three quarters. The maximum 7i<idth of the port of 

 a bit should be about one and one-third inches, an important matter, because if the mouthpiece is 



* This, and all Major Dwyer's t.ickle, have, at my request, been taken up by Messrs. White and Coleman, of Bishopsgate 

 Street, London. 



