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the severity and power of the bit. A lip-strap should connect the 

 two lower cheeks of the bit, passing through the ring that hangs 

 from the centre of the curb-chain, in order to prevent the horse 

 getting the bit into his mouth, and to prevent the curb-chain getting 

 out of its proper place if put on loose. An ordinary curb-bit is 

 seldom used alone, except in the case of the Hanoverian bit, but is 

 always combined with a snaffle or bridoon of some sort or other. 

 The Hanoverian bit is made with ornamental works on the cheeks, 

 and the mouthpiece is furnished with a high centre or port, and is 

 covered with rollers ; the different parts of it are also made move- 

 able. It is a very severe bit, but does very well for the purposes for 

 which it is generally used. The Ohifney is another very severe one, 

 the curb chain acting with greater power in this bit than in any 

 other. It is very suitable for ladies to ride with, or for very hard 

 pulling horses, as by its leverage it gives great power to the rider, 

 but requires very nice handling. The severer the bits are in their 

 action, the greater care they require in their use. The Segundo is 

 another sort of curb-bit used for hard-mouthed pulling horses, and 

 is made with a high moveable port. There is another bit that is a 

 good deal used in the hunting field, and a very good one ; the 

 mouthpiece of it slides up and down a short distance on the cheeks ; 

 it is called the Dunchurch. 



'' For most horses that have their heads well placed, and are 

 temperate, with good mouths, the best bit is a plain smooth curb 

 and snaffle, or bit and bridoon, as they are generally called — not too 

 long in the lower cheek, and with a low port ; the mouthpiece of 

 the bridoon should be of a good size. This is the bit in general use, 

 and suits more horses than any other. But when you get horses 

 who carry their heads too high or too low, or are very determined 

 pullers, or very irritable, it is then requisite to bit them differently. 

 Ewe-necked horses, that get their heads up are about the most diffi- 

 cult of any to ride to hounds. They generally go best with a 

 snaffle, either smooth or twisted. A curb-chain snaffle is very useful 

 with this sort of horse, and a martingal, or else quite a plain double 

 bridle. As a general rule they cannot bear to have their heads 

 interfered with, especially at a fence. Many horses pull very hard if 

 ridden in severe bits and with tight curb chains, that do not pull 

 much in snaffles or light double bridles with tolerably loose curb 

 chains. But for determined pullers, with hard, bad mouths, it is well 

 to use a bridoon and Segundo or Chifney, or, at any rate, a bit with 

 cheeks sufficiently long to give a good amount of power to the rider. 

 For a bad-mouthed horse, especially one that is inclined to get his 



