FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



narrow in brow-band; too short as to bridoon, 

 too narrow as to bit, too severe as to curb-chain, 

 too small as to both mouth-pieces. The average 

 bridoon bit is generally so tightly drawn up into 

 the angles of the mouth that cheeks are wrinkled 

 and drawn in against the teeth, so that any motion 

 of them tends to bruise and lacerate the inside of 

 the cheeks, causing continual pain and discomfort. 

 Nine bridoons out of ten are taken up from three 

 to six holes too short, and the bridoon thus acts 

 upon a part of the mouth which it was never 

 meant to touch, and which it must not press upon 

 if the best results are expected. An old-fashioned 

 "Dexter snaffle'' is the best bridoon known, and 

 it cannot be too large, while its shape prevents its 

 pulling through the mouth (as does the ordinary 

 small-ringed wire bridoon). A bridoon dropped 

 as low, or lower, than the bit, will effect the best 

 results, as experiment proves, as practice confirms, 

 and as the most competent authorities advocate. 

 As the bridoon is too high generally, so is the bit 

 placed too low, and is often not only very narrow, 

 but sometimes provided with a port as well. 



While the whole purpose, intention, and indica- 

 tions of the two bits are dissimilar, and intended 

 rarely to be used at equal tension, most equestrians 



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