3 8 HITS AND BRIDLE GEAR. 



10. A Newmarket snaffle is a snaffle to which a nose-band 

 is attached, with the object of placing, as may be desired, the 

 pressure derived from the reins, on the nose or on the mouth. 

 A useful form of this bridle may be made from a double-ringed 

 snaffle which has attached to its inner rings a nose-band 

 that is kept in position by side straps fixed to the cheek-pieces 

 of the bridle (Fig. 44). When one pair of reins is taken up, 

 its action is that of an ordinary double-ringed snaffle ; but 

 when the other is used, all the pressure falls on the bridge of 

 the animal's nose. It will then often prove a valuable check 

 to a hard puller or bolter; probably, more by affording a 

 plain indication of the rider's wishes, than by undue severity. 



In another form of Newmarket snaffle, an ordinary snaffle 

 is employed instead of a double-ringed one, and the length 

 of .the nose-band is adjusted, so as to divide the pressure 

 between the nose and the mouth, as may be deemed advisable. 

 It forms a nice bit for a horse with a tender mouth. I like 

 the other kind the better of the two ; because greater variety 

 of control can be obtained with it. 



1 1. The India-rubber snaffle, which is usually a chain snaffle 

 that has its mouth-piece permanently covered with India- 

 rubber. The great objection to this form of mouth-piece 

 is that it is impossible by mere inspection to learn the con- 

 dition of the underlying metal, which is often defective and 

 cannot be kept clean as long as the rubber remains over it. 

 A bit of this kind should not be used without thoroughly 

 testing its strength. From neglect of this precaution, I 

 have known accidents occur, both in my own case and that of 

 others, by these bits breaking during use. 



HANCOCK'S PATENT INDIA-RUBBER "CURL BIT MOUTH 



COVERS." 



This (Fig. 45) is an admirable invention, which confers 

 on a snaffle or straight-mouthed curb all the advantages 



