78 BITS AND BRIDLE GEAR. 



Consequently, such a short length of the upper ends of the 

 cheeks would do away with any mechanical advantage to be 

 derived from the employment of a curb. I have found that 

 for ordinary horses it is advisable to fix this length, measuring 

 from the lower surface of the mouth-piece to the top eye, at 

 from \y% to i l /i inch (Fig. 94). The measurement is usually 

 taken from the centre of the mouth-piece, which is a plan that 

 does not allow for the thickness of the mouth-piece ; for it 



Fig. 94. Properly constructed Curb for ordinary Hunter. Side View. 



is evident, that the thicker the mouth-piece, the longer does 

 the upper end of the cheek practically become. 



2. Length of lower end of cheeks. Having fixed the length 

 of the upper end of the cheek, we may, in order to obtain 

 increased power, lengthen the lower end of the cheek to, say, 

 3 inches. An important danger of having a curb with long 

 cheeks for hunting, is that, if the horse comes down, he will 

 be liable to hurt his mouth severely by the ends of the cheeks 

 catching on the ground, in the event of the animal's muzzle 

 striking the ground, and especially if it slides forward on that 

 surface. The pain thus inflicted might easily give rise to dis- 

 ordered movements on the part of the horse which would 

 cause a serious accident to one or both of these companions in 

 danger. When a horse falls and is not prevented by his rider 



