178 ILLUSTRATED HORSE-BREAKING. 



bend his neck, to get his hind-quarters under 

 him, and to moderate his speed in response to 

 a pull on the reins, is not nearly so imperative, 

 as in educating the charger, hunter and steeple- 

 chaser, who must have always a " spare leg," 

 ready for any emergency. 



The principle of the specially constructed 

 driving pad and cross-trees, is an idea of my 

 own, which I have found of great use. By 

 its employment, we have no need of the 

 bearing reins, which some of the old Irish 

 breakers were accustomed to use ; for, if the 

 horse holds his head too low down, it can 

 be easily got up into its proper position when 

 circling the animal, by '* playing" with the 

 outward rein, which, in this case, should rest 

 on the driving pad. I cannot approve of 

 rendering the neck rigid by the combined em- 

 ployment of martingale and bearing reins. With 

 respect to the objections to the use of the last- 

 mentioned appliance, see page 55. With skittish 



