256 DRAUGHT AND HARNESS. 



probability is that there will be no recoil, or at least 

 that it will be then quite clear where the difficulty 

 lies, and therefore the remedy easier to find. In a 

 subsequent letter the writer of that letter mentions 

 having tried the running-rein successfully, but he does 

 not say anything of the training-halter, which we con- 

 sider to be of equal importance. An Irish friend of 

 ours has also tried it successfully in single draught. 

 Not having had an opportunity of trying this arrange- 

 ment ourselves — for it is altogether our correspondent's 

 idea — w^e cannot say positively that it must suc- 

 ceed ; but we have not the slightest doubt of its 

 being a very valuable aid in training young horses to 

 draught. 



The running-rein can be very easily lengthened by 

 buckling on a piece of rein to it, and when there 

 is a hame-martingal strap, an ivory ring attached to 

 this above the ring for the pole-straps (or chains) and 

 the leather curb carrying the smaller, ring under the 

 horse's chin will be all that is required. For double 

 harness, and when used for both horses, the ends of 

 the runnmg-rein might be led through the inner terrets 

 of each, and come into the drivers hand like the 

 leader's reins in four-hand draught, for it is only for 

 riding that it is more convenient to bring the end of 

 the rein to the right or off side. In case of necessity, 

 the driver could then with his whip-hand bring his team 

 up most eflfectually. For ladies or invalids driving 

 spirited horses or ponies, the two mnning-reins might 

 be buckled into one leading-rein and fixed to the dash- 

 board or elsewhere, so as to be easily within reach. 



In any case it is advisable to bit horses so that they 

 may take a firm leaning on the hand in the first in- 



