The Lever ^ I he Bit and Citrh^ etc. 179 



and more or less so with the hinge one. From the 

 riding-school point of view, jointed bits are altogether 

 objectionable ; from the military one, they are scarcely 

 admissible, although the Prussian light cavalry adheres 

 to their use. For road-riding and hunting purposes 

 the well-known Pelham is in great favor ; and as there 

 must be some ground for this, it is worth while inquir- 

 ing into. 



The great argument in favor of the Pelham is, that 

 the upper pair of reins give you the action of a snaffle — 

 which is, however, not quite correct, but let it pass — • 

 while the lower pair- afford that of a curb-bit, as the 

 expression is. To this latter we must oppose a decided 

 negative for two reasons : first, because the action that 

 results is that of a pincer, as shown above ; and second- 

 ly, because if the dimensions of the upper and lower 

 bars of our unjointed bits are very irregular and gen- 

 erally much exaggerated, they are, in the case of the 

 Pelham, simply monstrous, so that the curb is invari- 

 ably dragged right up out of the chin-groove, and on to 

 the most sensitive part of the under jaw, the eHects of 

 which we have so frequently pointed out. No doubt 

 the Pelham will produce ''''painful action" enough, and 

 so far as those whose ideas 0:0 no farther as regards the 

 unjointed bit are justified in making a comparison ; 

 but a painful action exerted in a wrong or even uncer- 

 tain direction is certainly a mistake. 



If we had to address ourselves exclusively to really 

 good and intelligent riders, we w^ould say what they are 

 themselves perfectly aware of — With your steady seat, 

 and light hand resulting therefrom, you have more per- 

 fect command over your horses with a well-constructed 

 snaffle than with any Pelham. Your very conviction 

 of this sets you at ease, and that is a great point. If 

 you want a little help with a young horse here and 

 there, or with one whose neck is turned upside down 



