36 



EIDINQ AND TEAIKING SADDLE-HOESES. 



act as it should, and insteM of inducing obedience, we 

 arouse opposition. The reason for the prejudice against 

 curb-bits, among those "who consider them instruments 

 of lorture, is, that as they are generally used, they are 

 instruments of torture. It is impossible to ride really 

 ■well on an ayerage horse without a curb-bit ; but it is 

 impossible to ride well on any horse, unless the curb-bit 

 is properly made and properly adjusted. Its importance 



Fig. 11. — ODHB-BITTmO. 



is sufficient to justify a careful explanation, for which 

 purpose the above illustration, figure 11, is taken from 

 Major Dwyer's book. 



The point, d, shows the position of the bit in the 

 mouth ; e, is what is known as the " chin-groove," which 

 is easily seen on any horse. The head-stall should in all 

 cases be of such a length as to allow the bit, d, to lie ex- 

 actly opposite the chin-groove. This is the only place 

 where it will not do more harm than good, unless the 

 horse is remarkably well broken ; /, is the point where 

 the rein is attached, at the end of the lower arm of the 



