224 Modern Riding and Horse Education 



constrain the movements of the colt's head and neck 

 any more than is absolutely necessary in the initial 

 stages, even if his conformation is hopelessly bad, 

 and it is also obvious that if he is allowed to hang his 

 head in the commencement of his training, the rider 

 will have more trouble afterwards in getting him 

 correctly placed and balanced. Bearing-reins were 

 found necessary in the past, and Hayes advocates 

 the use of the overhead bearing-rein attached to the 

 nose-band. This does not, however, lighten the 

 weight on the mouth. Put a harness horse into the 

 lead of a coach for the first time, and you will find 

 that the weight of the reins, although supported, 

 makes him chary of facing the bit. 



To handle long reins successfully is by no means 

 easy, and requires a man of much practice and ex- 

 perience. When I first saw them systematically used 

 in horse-breaking, I was much taken with the idea, 

 and have before now written in their praise; 

 riper experience has led me to agree with Lord Pem- 

 broke, who says with reference to working on foot : 

 " A good rider, who feels every motion of his horse, 

 must act with more precision, delicacy, and exact- 

 ness." If a horse has been properly dealt with be- 



