64 



Bits and Bitthig, 



of itself C2iuse this Instrument either to stand stiff or to 

 fall through, if it exceed or come short of the heig^ht of 

 the bars of the mouth, as is shown in fig. ii, where d e 

 represents this latter dimension, d b an upper bar pre- 

 cisely equal, d c one of only half the same length, and 

 d a one double the same. When a pull of the rein acts 

 aty on the lower bar, the curb will be drawn closer to 

 the chin, and the mouthpiece to the interior of that 

 organ ; and supposing the amount of this " closing up " 

 to be equal in all three instances, the bit with a long 

 upper bar, d a^ will assume the position a' df^. It 

 will be stiffs and the curb acting up-jcai'd^ in the direc- 

 tion e «', will press on the sensitive part of the jaw. 

 Moreover, there will be no lever action, the two arms 

 of the lever being equal ; the horse will, therefore, bore 

 in the rider's hand. On the other hand, the bit with the 

 short upper bar d c, equal half d e^ will assume the 

 position c' d f^ — that is, it will fall throiigh. The 

 .".urb will, no doubt, remain in the chin-groove, and act 



forward in the direction e c\ but forming a very acute 

 angle with the branches of the bit itself, will have 



