190 BITS AND BITTING. 



the curb without hooks equal once and a- quarter the 

 width of the horse's mouth, and the curb-hooks equal 

 in length three-fourths upper cheek of bit, which will 

 bring the total length of curb and hooks up to once and 

 a-half the same dimension ; and it only remains to put 

 the bit and bridle in their proper places. 



We have already shown how much depends on the bit 

 being placed accurately. A quarter or even an eighth 

 of an inch higher or lower makes all the difference in 

 the world. The headstall or cheek-pieces of the bridle 

 must therefore afford all the necessary facilities in the 

 way of buckles and straps for this purpose. Military 

 bridles and harness have nearly always two pairs of 

 these that is, one pair by means of which the bit is 

 attached to the cheek-piece of the bridle by its upper 

 rings, and a second in the cheek-pieces themselves, 

 for the purpose of regulating their length; and both 

 pairs may be employed to determine the height at 

 which the bit is suspended in the horse's mouth. 

 There is a great inconvenience and disadvantage in 

 having a multiplicity of buckles, and many civilian 

 bridles if we may use the word omit altogether the 

 first-named pair, the cheek-pieces being then sewed 

 directly into the upper rings of the bit.* This we hold 

 to be a great mistake, because, first of all, the bit, 

 supposing it to be of the proper size and shape, cannot 

 be so easily fixed in its proper place ; and, secondly, 

 it is impossible to change it for one that does fit 

 accurately, in the contrary case. In fact, this practice 

 is evidently a consequence of want of clear views on 



* We are told "that the gentlemen adopt the latter method 

 and the farmers the former ; not having so many bridles, and 

 changing their mouth-pieces more frequently." 



