238 HORSE AND MAN. 



Absurd as it may seem, I have personally known 

 more than one case where the owner compromised with 

 his coachman, and permitted him to retain the bear- 

 ing-rein provided that it were too slack to press 

 against the mouth even if the horse fell. The man 

 was afraid to meet the professional eye of his fellows, 

 and was not proof against the sneers to which he 

 knew he would be subjected if his horses wore no 

 bearing-reins. 



One of the most important points in the veterinary 

 surgeon's overwhelming condemnation of the bearing- 

 rein may not have struck the reader. It is the strong 

 sense of honour shown by the writers. 



Every reform has some adherents, whose zeal 

 outruns their discretion, and who do more harm to 

 their cause than if they had been active opponents. 

 For example, soon after the Battle of the Bearing- 

 reins began, some ladies made an outcry against the 

 neighbouring carters, accusing them of employing 

 the cruel bearing-reins, &c. The men, however, 

 proved that they had no bearing-reins, but only 

 the leading reins, and that their accusers did not 

 know the difference. Consequently, the enemy was 

 routed. 



I very much fear, however, that although the ladies 

 might not have been able to distinguish a bearing-rein 

 from a leading-rein, the men may after all have out- 



