74 ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOGY. 



Before mounting a horse, the rider should always examine 

 the adjustment of the bit with as much care as he puts in his 

 inspection of the saddle. Whether or not the horse will be com- 

 fortable — and if he is not comfortable, the rider will not be — 

 depends largely on the fit of his equipments, and, more than 

 any other single thing, on the fit of the bit and curb-chain. 



The snaffle bit and the bar bit as well, as we have seen, tend 

 to make the horse raise his head. The hands of the rider, in 

 consequence, when using the snaffle, should be held as low as 

 practicable to counteract this tendency. Figures 53 and 54 

 illustrate this point. 



The low position of the hands does not influence the action 

 of the curb bit, for the depressing action of that bit lies in the 

 bit itself, and the position of the hands, within limits, has no 

 effect upon it. The low position is much the more graceful, 

 however, and, because the hands are nearer to a point of sup- 

 port, adds to the security of the rider. 



The ordinary curb bit exerts a downward pressure on the 

 poll, which increases as the curb-chain is loosened, allowing the 

 upper branch to revolve further forward and downward. This 

 is objectionable, but as no bit has ever been devised that removes 

 it without introducing more objectionable features, it is a condi- 

 dition that must be accepted for the present. 



The best arrangement for guiding and controlling horses is 

 the bit and bridoon in common use among good horsemen the 

 world over. The combination is shown in Figures 50, 51, and 52. 

 This enables the rider to use the comfortable snaffle or bar bit 

 for the ordinary business of riding. The curb remains always at 

 hand, out of the way, simple, powerful, ready to control the 

 horse in those rare moments, for the well-trained and well- 

 handled horse, when the snaffle is insufficient. 



A Pelham bit is one that combines, in a way, the functions 

 of bit and bridoon. There are many varieties of Pelham bits, 

 but the main object of them all is to do away with the second 

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