198 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



is as likely to arise from an over-sensi- 

 tive mouth as from a hard one, in which 

 case a rubber snaffle might prove effica- 

 cious where a Chifney would fail. 



Sometimes certain parts of the mouth 

 become callous, and a bit bearing on a 

 different place might produce the de- 

 sired result. Most horses will go well 

 in a bit and bridoon, varied to suit their 

 peculiarities by the height of the port, 

 the length of the branches, and the 

 pressure of the curb-chain. There are 

 certain points which should always be re- 

 garded. The mouth-piece must fit the 

 horse's mouth exactly, being neither so 

 narrow as to pinch him, nor so wide 

 as to lose its power. The port should 

 be the same width as the tongue-chan- 

 nel, and no higher than required to 

 leave room for the tongue. The curb- 

 chain must be sufficiently tight to fur- 

 nish leverage for the branches, yet not 



