THE LEVER, THE BIT AND CURB, ETC. 183 



itself higher ; this, however, can only be resorted to 

 with a port of very moderate height ; otherwise the 

 roof of the palate would be endangered by every pull 

 on the rein. 



Again, we have the well-known contrivance of rings, 

 which prevent horses from seizing the bit between their 

 grinders, and thereby neutralising the lever-action, as 

 some will do occasionally ; they are also very useful 

 with what are called " dead mouths," and favour the 

 very desirable process of " champing the bit." These 

 rings may also be advantageously applied to the top of 

 the arch of the port, where this, either on account of its 

 absolute height, or its being inclined forwards, is likely 

 to touch the palate. Where rings are employed, they 

 must be very movable, and, to insure this, few in 

 number. 



We have hitherto considered the mouth-piece as 

 consisting of one piece, but fashion has introduced a 

 great variety of jointed mouth-pieces, and these are 

 much used in England. We may classify these mouth- 

 pieces generally into such as, having a common snaffle- 

 joint, are capable of being deflected in every direction ; 

 and, on the other hand, such as, having a hinge-joint, 

 can only be deflected backwards and forwards relatively 

 to the plane of the bit. In both cases the deflection 

 affords in its own way a certain amount of tongue- 

 freedom, like the port of an un jointed bit ; but here all 

 resemblance between the action of the two ceases ; for 

 whilst the pressure, and consequently the action, of the 

 latter is exerted in a direction parallel to the horse's 

 backbone, that of the former, taking a diagonal direc- 

 tion towards the centre, degenerates into a pincer-like 

 gripe, which is wholly unreliable with the snaffle-joint, 



