CH. XI 



SNAFFLE-BIT 



205 



Fig. 91. 



wide strap fulfils this purpose without hurting the 

 chin ; for which reason I have always preferred the 

 strap. 



The action of the chain, on a pulling horse, may 

 be much increased by tying the centre of it by a 

 piece of cord to the throat-latch, so as to make it 

 bear higher up on the jaw, or the chain may be 

 passed once round the part of the nose-band which 

 lies above it, with the same 

 effect. 



Plain snaffle-bits (Fig. 91) are 

 rarely used on coach horses. 

 If one horse in a team will not 

 go pleasantly with any other bit, he must have 

 one ; but it is dangerous to bit a team all round 

 with snaffles, for if they start suddenly, it may be 

 difficult to hold them, and an unnecessary risk is 

 being run ; a curb bit with a light hand is the proper 

 thing. 



The double-ring, jointed snaffle (Fig. 92) is the 

 favourite hansom-harness bit, and in severity comes 

 between the plain snaffle and 

 the curb. The loose rings are 

 fastened to the head-stall of the 

 bridle, and the reins buckled to 

 the ordinary rings ; the pull 

 bends the bit at its joint, and squeezes the loose 

 rings together, making- the bit quite severe. The 

 action of the various Bits will be discussed in Chap- 

 ter XV. 



Fig. 9: 



