i 9 4 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



give full effect to the powers of a horse in harness, but 

 was convenient for post horses on roads much fre- 

 quented, as they could be harnessed and brought out 

 much quicker than when collars and hames were to be 

 put on. They are only now to be seen on the leaders of 

 two or three old-fashioned coaches. 



The pads of wheel horses also demand attention. 

 They should fit a horse's back like a well-made saddle, 

 and if not well stuffed they are very apt to gall them — 

 there being a great stress upon them when going down a 

 hill, or pulling up short, with a heavy load, particularly 

 when breeching is not used. 



The pads of wheelers and leaders should fit well to 

 their backs, and be girthed moderately tight, for nothing 

 looks worse than to see them jumping about when the 

 horse is in action. When it happens that a horse loses 

 his flesh, his pad becomes too wide for him, in which 

 case a false one is put into it, fastened by two small 

 straps made to buckle over it. The middle terret in the 

 wheelers' pad is an improvement of late years ; and a 

 considerable one it is, for the leader's rein passing 

 through it by itself, runs more glibly than when accom- 

 panied by the wheelers' coupling rein, as was the case 

 before. The false belly-band passes under the coach 

 horse from one tug buckle to the other, and is quite 

 slack when the horse stands at ease. Its use is, to keep 

 the traces down when he is at work, and thereby prevent 

 angles in draught. 



The next, and perhaps the most material part of 

 putting horses together, consists in the coupling reins ; 



