BRIDLES. 227 



the hand relaxmg its stress on the rein. It is for a 

 hard and heavy-headed horse a most efficacious bit 

 in efficacious hands, if used with a bridoon. And 

 here let me make one observation, that is to be re- 

 garded as a rule without an exception, but in one 

 case which I will mention in its place. No curb-bit 

 should be used without a bridoon that is snaffle-bit 

 also. 



Next comes the ordinary double bridle, or, in other 

 phrase, *' bit and bridoon;" in this case the bit is 

 made to be more or less severe, according with the 

 horse's mouth it is intended for. And here I must 

 enter a little into the form of bits. In the first place, 

 a good deal of the more or less severity of the bit de- 

 pends on the port : a high and wide port, giving 

 ample room for the tongue, admits the bit to come 

 down on the bars of the horse's mouth ; a less ele- 

 vated port resting on the tongue, of course, keeps it 

 away from them, and with such a bit the only appui 

 we have is the curb-chain. 



Saddlers, or indeed bit-makers (unless very scien- 

 tific men) make one great mistake in bits. They 



Q 2 



