The Lever ^ the Bit and Curh^ etc. 187 



of the right hand to pass flat between it and the chin ; 

 and by gently pulling the reins with the left hand whilst 

 the two fingers of the right are in this position, it will 

 be easy to ascertain whether any pinching action occurs, 

 in which case there is sure to be something wrong. 



As to the measure of the proper length of the curb, we 

 have already stated it ge^ierally ; but each individual 

 case will require a separate adjustment, and if the links 

 be either very large or very small, it will sometimes oc- 

 cur that the difference of one of these will make the curb 

 either too tight or too loose ; we must then, of course, 

 try another curb. If the bit is rigid or stands stiff' on 

 the reins being drawn gently, the curb will be too short ; 

 and on the pressure being increased, the horse will 

 almost certainly either turn his mouth askew to avoid 

 the griping action of the mouthpiece or bear back sud- 

 denly to escape it altogether : we therefore give him 

 another link, and drawing the reins gently as before, we 

 obsei've whether, after the lower bar has moved through 

 an angle of about eight degrees — bringing the mouth- 

 piece just to meet, as it were, the interior of the mouth 

 — the horse gives his head gently and gradually in the 

 direction of your hand as it increases the pressure, with- 

 out either poking his nose or shrinking back. If this be 

 the case you are all right ; but if the lower bar moves 

 through a much greater angle than the above — say fif- 

 teen to twenty degrees — before the horse yields percept- 

 ibly, then your curb will be probably too long. 



We sav probablv, because vou mav. after shortenine: 

 and lengthening the curb once or twice, find that the 

 horse will avoid the bit in the first case or remain insen- 

 sible to it in the second — in fact, you discover that the 

 mouthpiece is unsuited ; therefore, in adjusting the length 

 of the curb, you must take care to avoid drawing your 

 conclusions too hastily. When you come to a hitch of 

 this kind, lift up the horse's upper lip gently with your 



