90 



THE FAMILY HORSE. 



Fig. 54.— BAUCHER CURB BIT. 



the common snaffle, shown in figure 53. It. is provided with guards 

 to lieep it from being pulled into the horse's mouth. The double- 

 jointed snaffle bit has a short link in place of a single joint in the 

 middle. Snaffle bits are sometimes 

 made of twisted wire, but they are 

 severe and cut the mouth. The curb 

 bit, shown in figure 54, has a bend in 

 the middle, called the port, which, by 

 the action of the reins, is pressed up- 

 ward against the sensitive bars in the 

 roof of the mouth. These bits have, 

 attached to the upper part of the side- 

 bars, a curb-chain, which presses 

 against the lower jaw. The Pelham 

 bit, illustrated in figure 55, is a com- 

 bination of the snaffle and curb. In 

 the middle is a hinge- joint, instead of 

 the link-joint of the snaffle. The 

 bridoon, figure 56, is a plain jointed 

 bit, like a snaffle, without the side- 

 bars. For riding it is used in connection with a curb bit, and the 

 arrangement is very effective. Each of them has separate side- 

 straps to the head-stall and separate reins. The bridoon is worn 

 inside of the curb bit, or it will press the latter and cause chafing. 



The reins of the bridoon 

 and curb bits are never 

 to be held tight at the 

 same time. The bridoon 

 reins are generally suf- 

 ficient for straightway 

 riding, and when the 

 curb is needed, the bri- 

 doon reins are relaxed. 

 Equal in importance 

 to the choice of a proper 

 bit is that of the saddle. 

 The English park sad- 

 dle, illustrated in figure 

 57, is the one almost 

 universally employed in England and in all but the more primi- 

 tive portions of the United States. The bast are made of pig- 

 skin. They are padded inside, except a space directly over the 

 horse's spine and withers, wliich is left chambered, to prevent direct 



Fig. 55.— PELHAM BIT. 



