USE OF THE BEAEIKG EEIN. 231 



objection. Some horses may, and do, carry 

 themselves so well that a bearing-rein appears 

 superfluous ; but, nevertheless, it may be useful, 

 and for this reason should never be entirely 

 dispensed with. I do not say that exceptions 

 may not be permitted. Those possessed of 

 thoroughbred horses, endowed with superior 

 action, may indulge in any whim or caprice 

 they like ; and animals worth from four hundred 

 guineas to six hundred guineas apiece, and 

 which go with their heads up, of course do not 

 require a bearing-rein, but I condemn the 

 principle for universal adoption ; and I have 

 heard the opinions of some of the best coach- 

 men of the day, both amateurs and profes- 

 sionals, who have asserted that for the gene- 

 rality of horses the practice is a dangerous one. 

 Some animals' heads are put on differently 

 from others, and consequently they vary in their 

 mode of carrvino; them. Some, for instance, 

 are star-gazers and appear to be taking lunar 

 observations, while others poke their heads 

 forward in such a longitudinal form that they 

 resemble in this particular the Continental 

 swine trained for grubbing truffles. The plan 1 

 should like to see adopted would be to have a 

 bearing-rein with an elastic end to it, so that 



