THE LEVER, THE BIT AND CURB, ETC. 173 



bit uncertain, or even still worse, in its actions. (See 

 Fig. 11.) 



The only certain way of attaining this perfect pain- 

 lessness of the curb, on which so much depends, is 

 supposing, of course, this latter to be properly constructed 

 and of the requisite dimensions by placing the mouth- 

 piece on that part of the bars exactly opposite to the 

 chin-groove; it is only in this position that we have 

 the right-angled triangle, e d b, shown in Fig. 12. But 

 there is another reason for this : we find here the portion 

 of the bar of the horse's mouth best suited for the 

 action of the mouth-piece that space that intervenes 

 between the grinders and the tusks, where these exist. 

 With respect to the latter, it is necessary to mention 

 that there is great irregularity as to their position in 

 the mouth, some horses having them relatively higher, 

 others lower ; nor do the tusks of the upper jaw always 

 correspond with those of the lower one, and mares 

 have very frequently no tusks whatever ; it is therefore 

 quite impossible to determine the proper place for the 

 mouth-piece with reference to these teeth, although even 

 the cavalry regulations continue to do so : the chin-groove, 

 in consequence of its relation to the action of the 

 curb, is the essential point to be considered. 



Almost all the defects and absurdities of bits and 

 bitting may be traced to ignorance of, or inattention to, 

 this very simple rule. A man puts a bit into his horse's 

 mouth let us suppose that it is a well-proportioned one 

 in every respect ; he fixes it at the prescribed " inch 

 above the lower tusk " if he be a soldier, or draws it 

 up into the angle of the lips if he be a civilian : he may 

 just happen to hit off the right place, and if so, even 

 an ill-shaped bit will work tolerably ; he is content 



