MODERN RIDING. 19 



length : this is, however, in practice, often 

 varied. 



By some, to prevent the horse from catch- 

 ing the bit in his mouth (when in the straight 

 kind this is not prevented by a chin strap), 

 the branch is made with an arch or semicircle 

 in the middle, like the letter C, turned back- 

 wards. Still, however, whether bent into 

 that or any other shape, it is the length of 

 the lever, and its strength, which alone give 

 the power. 



As to the cheek piece or banquet, its eye 

 commands and gives efficiency to the rest of 

 the bit, or, in other words, decides the dis- 

 tance of the chain from the mouth piece, or 

 centre of motion. The eye, or hole at the 

 upper end of the branch, should be so placed 

 as not to hurt the cheek. 



The most useful bit of the curbed kind 

 appears to be the Weymouth bit, which is at 

 present in common use for draft horses of 

 light work, as for carriages, coaches, &c. It 



c 2 



