THE LEVEE, THE BIT AND CURB, ETC. 191 



the subject of bitting, and, on the other hand, a great 

 obstacle to the attainment of the necessary accuracy. 

 We hold the lower pair of buckles and straps to be 

 indispensable. The upper pair of buckles might be 

 more easily dispensed with if one single buckle were 

 placed on the top of the horse's head between its 

 ears ; for by means of this the total length of the 

 cheek-pieces may be regulated generally, and the final 

 adjustment of the position of the bit accomplished 

 by means of the buckles and straps, which latter 

 should be pierced with holes at intervals of half an 

 inch.* Some people will, however, prefer the buckles 

 in the cheek-pieces ; and if so, it will be necessary to 

 see that they do not lie higher than the angle of the 

 horse's eye, as they are otherwise likely to interfere 

 with the position of the forehead-band, which should, 

 like every other part of the bridle, including the throat- 

 band, fit loosely, and cause the least possible amount 

 of discomfort to the horse consistent with the object to 

 be attained. 



The nose-band has pretty nearly altogether disappeared 

 from our English bridles, which is also a mistake. 

 When horses have been once perfectly trained to the 

 bit, and taken to it kindly, this strap may be dispensed 

 with safely, if people do not like the look of it; but, 

 until this is the case, the nose-band is most valuable 

 as a means of preventing the animal from opening 

 its mouth too wide and bolting the bit, or catching 

 hold of it between its teeth in fact, evading its action 

 in one way or the other. It is very evident that we 



* It may sometimes be necessary to let the bit down or take 

 it up by a smaller quantity than the half-inch affords ; in such 

 cases intermediate holes may be made ; but the fewer of these 

 the better, as they weaken the strap. 



