176 THE BRIDLE. 



THE NOSE- BAND measures in length about thirty inches 

 from the buckle to the end of the point, and in width an 

 inch and an eighth in front and half an inch under the chin. 

 It should be preferably a plain piece of leather without any 

 metal mounts. The nose-band should be attached in such 

 a manner that it can be drawn taut around the nose. The 

 nose-band is generally attached to the cheek-pieces for the 

 purpose of holding it in place, but when thus made it is of 

 no service in keeping the horse's mouth closed so that the 

 bit can act effectively on a puller. The nose-band should 

 pass freely between the points of the cheek-pieces, or loops 

 on the cheek-pieces. Howlett, the well-known English whip, 

 in his book, " Driving Lessons," p. 68, says : 



" Many people do not know the use of a nose-band. It is indispensa- 

 ble for shutting the horse's mouth when you use the big high port bit. The 

 nose-band should be short enough to be able, in case of need, to entirely 

 shut the horse's mouth, which renders useless the strap generally used for 

 that purpose. The place for the nose-band is just above the bit. Nearly 

 all harness makers make their nose-bands too long, particularly in the buckle 

 end under the jaw." 



THE BEARING-REIN has always been a subject of much 

 dispute, but under certain conditions it is necessary. For 

 brougham, victoria and coach appointment classes, the full 

 bearing-rein is called for. The bearing-rein for heavy car- 

 riage horses is made in two forms, plain and full. The plain 

 (see A, Fig. 61) consists of a round piece of leather attached to 

 the bit or bridoon with billets and passed through the bearing- 

 rein drop and thence to the bearing-rein hook on the saddle 

 or pad. About halfway between the bit and the saddle the 

 bearing-rein is jointed with a metal loop. That part which 

 passes through the bearing-rein drop is made of round leather, 



