52 HORSE-KEEPING FOE AMATEURS. 



without blinkers, and though it naturally looks strange, I think 

 it has common-sense on its side, and will eventually prevail. 

 If it is not needful for saddle work, why on earth is it for 

 harness ? Many of the heavy carriers and omnibus horses 

 now run without the "blinds," and that in itself is a re- 

 commendation of the innovation. 



I think I have abused bearing-reins elsewhere in this book, 

 80 I will merely say, in passing, that their only excuse is, 

 that, in double harness, they keep the horses' heads at the 

 same level ; even here they should be very loose — the 

 bearing reins, not the heads, I mean — and for single harness 

 they should be entirely eschewed. They deaden the mouth, 

 and, if a horse makes a blunder, you do not stand half the 

 chance you would without one, of picking him up and saving 

 the fall. 



The most important part of a harness, whether single or 

 double, is the collar. Innumerable troubles come from these 

 being more or less ill-fitting. A wring is so quickly caused, 

 and so slow are its effects in disappearing, that we should 

 not grudge time and care in getting a collar that is neither 

 too large nor too small ; one is as bad as the other. 



A throat-lash, nine times out of ten, is buckled much too 

 tightly. No object can be served by doing this, and the 

 amount of discomfort inflicted on the horse is not by any 

 means slight. The same remarks apply also, in every respect, 

 to curb chains, in or out of harness. The best bits used 

 are those made to slide in every joint, with a rough and 

 smooth side, so that either can be used that is thought most 

 fit. If possible — i.e., if your horse is not too hard-mouthed — 

 have the reins buckled on to the cheek, and not to either 

 of the lower bars, as animals all go far more comfortably 

 like this. If you have a very hard puller, an excellent 

 plan is to use reins with bits of leather sewn at intervals 

 across- the hand-pieces ; these give a tremendous grip, and 

 prevent the reins slipping through your fingers. 



Loin-cloths are good things for horses that have to stand 

 about much in bad weather, as doctors* animals, for instance. 

 I should only recommend their use for rain, however, as, if 

 the weather is merely cold, the animal can be kept walking 

 about, and the real danger to guard against is not cold, 

 but wet across the loins. 



In concluding these brief remarks upon the subject of harness, 



