196 THE POLE-PIECES. 



coupling-reins, but it is now confined to such harness as is 

 used with a neck-yoke. 



THE POLE-PIECES. 



POLE-PIECES are leather straps with a buckle matching in 

 shape and metal those on the harness. An inch or so in 

 front of the buckle a keeper is sewed to the upper side and 

 another is similarly placed about four inches lower down. 

 On the reverse side two other keepers are placed just below 

 the upper ones. The keepers should be of leather, not metal. 

 In the point end holes are made to take the tongue of the 

 buckle. The pole-piece should be of the same color leather 

 as the harness and just long enough to enable the point to 

 be passed through the eye of the pole-head or crab, and 

 thence through the kidney-link ring and be buckled, to fill 

 all the keepers, but not extend beyond the end of the pole. 

 Pole-pieces " should be of the best tanned, soundest leather 

 and be kept perfectly clean, soft and dry, otherwise they will 

 soon become rotten and dangerous." (" Driving," Badmin- 

 ton, p. 100.) That they should be used instead of pole-chains 

 on all pair-horse harness when the coachman drives is 

 agreed by all authorities, but there is a difference of opinion 

 as to their use when an owner drives. Major Dixon and 

 others, in the volume on " Driving " in the Badminton Li- 

 brary, p. 100, advocate the use of the pole-pieces instead of 

 chains on all pair-horse vehicles except the mail-phaeton : 

 " Pole-pieces are in most frequent use in pair-horse car- 

 riages, except the mail-phaetons, of all descriptions." The 

 writer believes, for personal use, the owner is justified in 

 exercising his own preference. Pole-pieces are sold sepa- 

 rately from the harness, but are included in the purchase of 

 a pair-horse vehicle. They cost about $ 1 2 per pair. 



