CHAPTEE V. 



TAKING MEASURE FOB THE BIT THE MOUTH -GAUGE 



THE TEIAL-BIT. 



ALTHOUGH we have given above a certain number of 

 permanent dimensions, or such as are nearly so, for the 

 bit, there still remains a certain number of variable 

 ones which must be ascertained in each individual 

 case that is to say, the width of the mouth, on which 

 so much depends ; that of the tongue-channel, nearly 

 equally important ; and finally, the relative thickness 

 of the tongue which latter, however, just because it 

 is relative, is not susceptible of direct measurement. 



For those who have had much experience in this 

 detail, the width of the mouth, and consequently that 

 of the mouth-piece, may be ascertained with sufficient 

 accuracy by putting any bit that is not too small into 

 the horse's mouth, and, whilst holding it gently up to 

 one side of the mouth, measuring off with a small rule 

 divided into inches and eighths or tenths how much of 

 the mouth -piece, if any, protrudes beyond the side of the 

 lips on the other side ; if we then deduct this amount 

 from the actual dimensions of the mouth-piece we at 

 once ascertain what those of the bit we seek should 

 be ; but it requires some practice to enable one to do 

 this accurately. 



