ON BRIDLING 323 



can alter the cheeks as we will. If the measuring 

 curh-bit is not available we should try several bits 

 with cheeks of different lengths. 



The effect of the different curb-bits must be 

 tried on every single horse and we must not trust 

 absolutely to the abstract theory because usually 

 the lean and pointed bars are very sensitive while 

 those fleshy and round are little sensitive but there 

 are mouths which, to judge from a superficial 

 inspection, appear less sensitive, whereas they are 

 more so and there are other mouths which appear 

 very sensitive while they are not so, and there are 

 horses which are more sensitive about the bars 

 than in the tongue, and others that are the contrary. 



As to the effect of the curb-bit one must bear 

 in mind that a body on a small base is drawn 

 more easily than a body on a large one. Thus a 

 horse can be drawn any way it is required if his 

 body has been made agile and pliant and if we 

 have accustomed him to go in a good position and 

 collected. Besides this, a study must be made of 

 the way of giving the aids of the hand and of gi- 

 ving them proportionally to the sensitiveness of 

 each single horse. 



