The Hand. 4 1 



always smiles, any more than for the man who 

 always scolds. 



2. Riding on the Cufb. An ordinary Curb 

 is a bit consisting of a curved bar or mouth- 

 piece fastened across the horse's mouth, and 

 having a Cheek, or cross-bar, at each end. 

 To the lower ends of the cheeks are fastened 

 the ends of the rein, and their upper ends are 

 connected by a chain which passes under the 

 horse's chin. When the curb rein is pulled, 

 the upper ends of the cheeks rise and tighten 

 the curb chain across the horse's chin, and at 

 the same time the mouth-piece turns and 

 presses its Port or curvature against the roof 

 of his mouth. The natural position of a well 

 made or well broken horse, when properly 

 ridden on the curb, is with his neck arched 

 and his head vertical ; and the curb is there- 

 fore useful, not only to regulate the horse's 

 pace, but also to place him in a graceful and 

 manageable attitude. 



Begin to practise riding upon the curb with- 

 out using the snaffle at all. Mount your horse, 

 and keep him at a halt until you have learnt 

 the proper feeling of his mouth. Take up 



