ACTION OF THE MOUTH^PIECE. 73 



more or less perpendicular manner, he may, as a *' defence," 

 relax his jaw, with the object of letting the mouth-piece slip 

 down in his mouth as much as possible, in order that a 

 certain amount of the pull of the reins may be transferred 

 from it to his poll, over which the crown-piece of the bridle 

 passes. Any '' defence " which a horse makes by opening 

 his mouth, may be counteracted by the use of a properly 

 applied nose-band* 



