58 HAEXESSING. 



double harness, where the strain of stopping and back- 

 ing the carriage of necessity comes upon them. 



Britching and KicJihirj-Stra2). — It is better in single 

 harness to have the britching made with side-straps 

 attached to the buckle or tug of the back-band, and not 

 to pass over the shaft (confined there by a loop or 

 staple as is usual). These side-straps can be tightened 

 or loosened according to the size of the animal, and if 

 properly adjusted, effectually prevent any carriage from 

 running on the quarters. Across the horses' hips and 

 through these straps, confined by square metal D's, 

 passes the kicking-strap, which is attached to the tugs 

 on the shafts by buckles. This caparison, instead of 

 being unsightly, is positively more elegant than the 

 ordinary shaped britching, and provides a kicking-strap 

 at all times with the britching. 



The kicking-strap for double harness must always be 

 inelegant, nor can it be made as efi'ectual as that for 

 single harness, for which reason, if for no other, a kick- 

 ing horse should never be used in double harness under 

 a gentleman's carriage. 



Britching is not generally used for double harness ; 

 but where appearances are not regarded, it finds place 

 amongst various other contrivances available to make 

 kickers, jibbers, bolters, plungers, and runaways, work 

 as placidly as "if they couldn't help it."* 



The Terret-Pad must be left to the taste of the 

 owner and saddler, with an observation, that in single 

 harness it should be ascertained that the back-band 

 has always free play through it, and as a precaution, it 



* Any one desiring hints in that line can have the benefit of 

 my experience in dealing with such cattle, by applying to my 

 publisher. 



