230 PEECEPT AND PEACTICE. 



length as with a longer upper branch ; but shorten it, 

 and the bit will be found to remain as horizontal as 

 you please to have it. All the very ancient bits have 

 or had the upper branch particularly short, the lower 

 as particularly long. By this they became most 

 powerful engines in the horse's mouth. 



Having thus endeavoured to show the principle on 

 which all curb-bits act, the reader is left to select 

 such a one as in point of force is suited to the mouth 

 of the horse for whom he wants one. 



I will next mention the jointed or Turkish bit, as 

 it was called when first produced. This is the only 

 curb-bit without exception, in the use of which we 

 may dispense with a bridoon and second rein. It is 

 jointed in the mouthpiece, and the cheeks or branches 

 are moveable ; by this the force, as applied to the 

 horse's mouth, varies as he moves his head ; and on 

 relaxing our stress, and then resuming it, we in com- 

 mon parlance "get fresh hold," that is, the pressure 

 is changed by the moveable nature, or rather make, 

 of the bit, on resuming our pressure on the mouth. 

 This is the reason why I say it is the only bit fit to 



