234 HORSE AND MAN. 



make a horse unmanageable and likely to rim away. 

 Here is a case in point. 



The late Mr. B. Shaw, M.P., possessed a horse 

 which was so violent that the coachman ordered a 

 very severe bit to be made expressly for it. Before 

 the bit was sent from the maker, a groom was 

 exercising the horse, and, in order to prevent it 

 from running away and to keep it under control, the 

 bearing-rein was employed as usual, and drawn back 

 up to the last hole. 



The horse was, as the groom said, exceedingly 

 ' fresh ' and restive, and struggled so violently that 

 the rein broke. ' I thought it was all up with me,' 

 said the groom, ' but to my surprise the horse 

 became at once manageable, and went beautifully, 

 and the severe bit was never used.' 



Lord Palmerston used to say that ' a runaw r ay 

 horse is best kept in by a light hand and an easy 

 snaffle,' and his opinion is corroborated by that of 

 Mr. Cracknel!, as quoted above. 



The best authorities are unanimous in their con- 

 demnation of the bearing-rein. Sir Francis Head, 

 who did as much miscellaneous horsemanship as 

 man can well do, always employed the strongest 

 language against it. 



The authors of standard works on the subject 

 equally condemn it. Mayhew never loses an oppor- 



