POLE CHAINS AND POLE PIECES. 79 



the pole. A strap, somewhat like a hame strap, is passed 

 through this eye and a similar one riveted to the pole; by 

 this means the main bar is prevented from becoming 

 detached. The pole hook when used on a road coach is 

 japanned, and the use of shackles, bolts and nuts, instead of 

 the eye and ring, is a characteristic distinction very often 

 seen. 



POLE CHAINS AND POLE PIECES. 



For some reason, unknown to the writer, the chains and 

 leather pole pieces, used for fastening the horses to the pole, 

 are considered part of a pair-horse vehicle and are therefore 

 always included in the asking price. As the pole chains 

 should be of steel and of the simple cable link pattern, there 

 is no objection to their being provided by the coach builder ; 

 but with the pole pieces the case is different. These should 

 match the harness, in the stitching, the type of keepers and 

 buckles. Their construction is in no way different from 

 other parts of a harness, and it seems as though there was 

 every reason for, and none against, purchasing them from 

 the harness dealer. The majority of carriage firms will fur- 

 nish any particular kind desired if the purchaser emphasizes 

 the request 



THE NECK YOKE. 



The neck yoke (see Fig. 44) is frequently used on the 

 poles of light pair-horse vehicles as it affords a means, when 

 desired, of exerting at right angles to the pole a resistance 

 to the forward pressure of the carriage. The resistance 

 thus directed is more effective than that exerted obliquely by 

 pole chains or pole pieces attached to the short arms of the 

 pole end. The neck yoke is joined to the pole by means of a 



