ON HARNESSING. 191 



so essential, as, the bars being- loose, the traces will find 

 their own level. If a horse draw at angles, his shoulders 

 will be wrung, as is proved by putting leaders to work 

 with a main bar only, and no swing bars. This can only 

 happen with the mails, as all the other coaches carry a spare 

 swing, as well as main bar. The mail only carries the 

 latter, which has four trace-hooks to it for the four traces 

 of the leaders. It does very well for a short distance, 

 but if horses were to work long at it, over heavy ground, 

 their shoulders would be torn to pieces. 



Our leaders' bars are a very pretty contrivance, and 

 act upon true mechanical principles. Some coachmen 

 chain the swing bars by two or three iron links. For 

 night work this is not a bad plan, as, in case of a trace 

 breaking or coming unhooked, the bar keeps its place, 

 and does not strike against the horse's hocks. In the 

 event, however, of a horse kicking over his bar, it is at- 

 tended with danger, and many have had their legs broken 

 in consequence. By observing the bars, we can always 

 tell which horse does the most work, as the free horse 

 will ' carry the bar,' as we call it — that is, it will be an 

 inch or two before that of his partner. When this is 

 carried too far by the free worker, his trace must be 

 crossed, as I observed before, or his partner will feel the 

 ill effects of it. The idle horse should be put off-side, 

 as he is more come-at-able. 



The next thing to attend to about a coach horse, or 

 any other horse that goes in harness, is his collar. Un- 

 less a horse work easy in it, we cannot expect the full 

 benefit of his powers. If it be too short for him, he 



