. SNAFFLE AND CURB. 87 



lower his head and to bring his chin into his chest, in either 

 of which cases his movements are interfered with by the 

 position assumed by the head and neck. The action of the 

 snaffle, especially when it is unjointed (see page 184), is 

 more direct, and its indications are consequently freer from 

 ambiguity. The breaking in of a horse with a curb is apt 

 to spoil him for subsequent work in a snaffle, the use of 

 which can in no way hinder him from being taught that of 

 the curb. Hence the snaffle should be the only bit employed 

 by the breaker for all ordinary requirements, until his pupil 

 is perfect in it. After that, he may teach the animal to go in 

 a curb. When riding under the usual conditions of field or 

 road, the snaffle should act on the "bars" and not on the 

 *' corners " of the mouth ; for the former are more sensitive 

 to pressure than the latter, and by acting on the bars we 

 prompt the horse to bend his neck (to save his mouth), and 

 consequently to }4eld to the rein. If, however, the pressure 

 falls on the corners of the mouth, the animal will as a rule 

 keep his head and neck stretched out and raised, so as to 

 prevent the bars being touched, in a manner which will 

 more or less deprive the rider or driver of control, and 

 which will hamper the movements of the horse. I may 

 point out that the only practical advantage which the curb 

 has over the snaffle, is that of severity. As high school 

 and circus riders require their horses to execute various 

 lofty airs de manege^ they use the snaffle to act on the 

 corners of the mouth, when they wish to make the animal 

 carry his head in an unnaturally high position, so that he 

 may be able to raise his fore legs with exaggerated freedom, 

 as in the Spanish trot or Spanish walk (see page 307). 



