222 HORSE AND MAN. 



CHAPTEE Xm. 



The bearing-rein continued — The locomotive and the brake — Probation 

 of an engine driver — The bearing-rein and the break— Leading reins 

 converted into bearing-reins — Railway companies and the bearing- 

 rein — Theories as to the bearing-rein — Its supposed use in preventing 

 the horse from falling — Bearing-reins and hills — Harness in Scotland 

 — The bearing-rein in Bristol — Mr. Oracknell's testimony — The 

 bearing-rein and runaway horses — A grievous experience — The 

 shoulder injured by the bearing-rein — Testimony of more than a 

 hundred veterinary surgeons — ' Roaring ' caused by the bearing-rein 

 — Mistaken zeal — Summary — ' Tree Lance's ' check for a runaway 

 horse. 



If we can imagine the driver of a locomotive engine 

 putting on the brakes and then turning on full steam, 

 so as to produce plenty of puffing, and smoke, and 

 sparks, and thinking that he was 'showing off' his 

 engine to the best advantage, we should set him 

 down as a maniac, or at the best an ignorant fool. 

 Certain it is, that no engine owner would keep the 

 man in his employ for five minutes. 



Yet the coachman who uses the gag-rein is doing 

 exactly the same thing. He is wasting the power of 

 the horse in snorting, and foaming, and pawing, and 

 head- tossing, while preventing him from drawing 



