Snaffles, Curbs, and Bits, Oh My!

"They use the snaffle and the curb all right; But where’s the bloody horse?" Roy Campbell

The above quotation is from the South African Authour, Roy Campbell, and is in refernce to other writers, but I think it is incredibly relevant to Curzon. Throughout the book, there are reference to tack. The first being in Chapter 3, when he says that he "would argue gladly about practical details such as [...] the pros and cons of a bit and snaffle"(24); the last being the refrence to the fact that "Curzon brought the brut back with a cruel use of the curb".
The curb and the snaffle are the metal piece in the horse's mouth attached to the reins. Snaffles look like little jointed bars and curbs look like medieval retainers. Snaffles are much gentler and work on the sides of the horses mouth, while the curb works on the roof and often inflicts a lot of pain. Militairy bridals often had two sets of reigns and incorporated both. Most riders who have the ability to use both hands use snaffles.
I think The pros of snaffles for Curzon would only have been evident in a type of war-making where the riders are often traveling without much danger. Although curbs can make your horse toss its head, and can be terrible if the rider is not proficient, it provides much more control when your in the middle of a battle trying to shoot people. The fact that Curzon begins with thoughts on the snaffle, and ends with reckless use of the curb speaks volumes about the changes in fighting styles that occur throughout the book.
As for Campbell's quotation, I think it applies to Curzon because it relfects his inability to look past the mechanics of something. Like with Stoicism, Curzon knows all the parts of the machine, and how they are to be employed, but he doesn't really understand the thing itself. He does not see the horse as a living creatures that feel pain, (and that has no real place in this war), but merely as a peice of equipment and status symbol. While I have no doubt that Curzon understands the snaffle and curb alright, I don't think he ever really understands the bloody horse. (Bad pun I know).