192 BITS AND BITTING. 



have by degrees got rid of the nose-band because 

 we did not understand its proper use ; and, when 

 coupled with the monstrous bits we are in the habit 

 of using, it may have been found sometimes a positive 

 inconvenience ; but any one who pays even a slight 

 attention to this matter will find the nose-band in- 

 valuable in the early stages of bitting. It must, 

 however, be put in the proper place that is to 

 say, just across the nose at the point where the bone 

 ceases and the cartilage commences; and it should 

 always be buckled so lightly as to admit of a proper 

 amount of free motion. 



We may now wind up this chapter with the rules 

 for placing the bit in the horse's mouth. When the 

 headstall has been adapted generally to the animal's 

 head by means of the upper buckle or buckles, the 

 next step will be to adjust the bit by means of the 

 lower ones, so that the mouth-piece shall come to rest 

 on the bars of the mouth exactly opposite the chin- 

 groove, unless, indeed, some irregular disposition of 

 the tusks should render this impossible, in which case 

 it must be moved only just so much higher as is abso- 

 lutely necessary to clear the obstacle. The curb may 

 be then hooked in, first, of course, at the off side, 

 leaving one reserve link, then at the near side, leaving 

 two such, and taking care that it lies quite flat in the 

 chin-groove, without any (even the slightest) tendency 

 to mount upwards when the reins are drawn. The curb 

 should never be quite tight ; there should always be 

 room for the first and second fingers of the right hand 

 to pass flat between it and the chin ; and by gently 

 pulling the reins with the left hand whilst the two 

 fingers of the right are. in this position, it will be easy 



