84 BITS AND BRIDLE GEAR. 



measured from the lower part of the mouth-piece to the top 

 eyes — are generally about 2]/^ inches long, instead of being 

 at least three-quarters of an inch shorter. The sliding 

 mouth-piece has the serious objection that it is liable to pinch 

 the horse's lips. 



CURB-CHAINS. 



Keeping in view the principle that the curb-chain should 

 on no account hurt the horse, we should select one which 

 will lie flat and smooth, in preference to one with small 



Fig. 97. Curb Chain covered with India-rubber Tube. 



and thin links. The chain may be covered with wash leather, 

 or, as Mr. Langham-Reed wisely suggests, by a tube of India 

 rubber (Fig. 97). A neater form of protection is afforded by 

 a leather strap placed between the curb-chain and the horse's 

 jaw ; or instead of a curb-chain, a flat piece of bridle leather, 

 furnished with a few links at each end may be used. " It is 

 very clear that the narrower the chain is made, the more 

 likely is it to cause pain, which is just what we want to 

 avoid, and we should therefore endeavour to make it as 

 broad as possible. The vulgar notion of a sharp curb is, 

 as the reader perceives, a monstrous absurdity " {Dwyer). 

 The width of an inch is ample for a curb-chain. If it is 

 much wider than this, it would be apt to hurt the sharp 

 edges of the lower jaw. 



The usual length of a curb-chain (about 103^ inches, when 



