FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



band, a strap with a buckle on one side to shorten 

 it, and a few links of curb-chain on each end, 

 should always be on the coach. Hook a link in 

 the curb-hook of one side, pass it across the chin 

 and round the nose, inside the face-pieces ; cross 

 the chin again and hook it on the other curb-hook, 

 taking up snugly with the buckle. This closes 

 the mouth, and with a dropped-bit or a port-bit, 

 if needed, is severe. The jaw-strap, a strap linger- 

 wide, long enough to go through the mouth, and 

 having half a dozen curb-links on each end, is 

 excellent for a few times. Hook as before, run 

 across chin, through the mouth, and across chin 

 again, and hook on the opposite curb-hook. 

 These two straps are invaluable. Various ways 

 of using cords, etc., savor of the " gyp " dealer, 

 and will not be quoted. The much-abused burr 

 is invaluable at times, and on certain heavy-headed, 

 one-sided, bolting, plunging horses will keep one 

 out of many a shop window and off of many a 

 sidewalk. 



Driving tandem has always seemed like putting 

 two horses in line to accomplish a task which they 

 could perform much better abreast. In olden 

 times it was doubtless a handy method of getting 

 one's hunter to a meet, but its pursuit seems 



224 



