52 Ce]s TAUR ; 



times would vary the performance by t"he corresponding 

 extreme — all round, constantly pulling in a tremendous and 

 excitable manner — thus shewing the necessity for both bear- 

 ing rein and martingale, whilst the driver tried by all means 

 in his power to check it by calling the horse' by name, 

 coaxing it, shouting, and, at a risk, touching him up with 

 the whip, thereby causing a considerable amount of swerving 

 and danger, but all to no purpose. The risk of upsetting 

 became more and more apparent, and would most certainly — 

 and perhaps with fearful consequences — have come about, 

 had the horse trodden upon a stone, or made one false step. 

 At last the writer's suggestion of a bearing rein was adopted, 

 and some window cord was attached, to act in that capacity, 

 and an additional cord carried from the back of the nose- 

 band, through the bottom hame-strap to the belly-band. 

 The result shewed itself in a few minutes, after first leading 

 the horse, and then quietly mounting the vehicle, to the 

 evident pleasure and comfort of the driver and all con- 

 cerned ; and the owner of the horse has said many times 

 since that he has not, and never shall, go out with a spirited 

 animal unless a bearing rein is either on the harness or 

 ready for use in the vehicle. At the same time, in fixing 

 the "check" up to the hook of the saddle, care and judg- 

 ment are necessary. The horse should have easy liberty in 

 standing, and in going up hill, which can be regulated by 

 the buckle on the near side ; and it should be remembered 

 that the bearing rein acts upon the crupper-dock, and that it 

 is not intended for compressing the animal's head to its tail. 

 If the horse be a hard puller and very fresh, the bearing 

 rein will save considerable arm-aching on the part of the 

 driver, and chafing on the part of the animal. Severity or 

 brute force is not needed in any case, and at all times the 

 end to be accomplished should not be sought for, or brought 

 about, too hurriedly. The check-rein should always be 

 slackened (if worn tight for the time) in going up hill, and 

 if the opportunity occurs for taking the extra rein off alto- 

 gether, it may be done; it is little carriage, and, — the writer 

 would add — no ornament. The less harness and strappings 

 a well-broken horse can with safety be made to do with, the 

 better. Now, the writer would ask, what the advocates of 

 *' no bearing rein " would use as a substitute, in the above 

 case — the secret gag bit ? The Author would cry shame ! 



"We cannot believe that the bearing rein is, or ever has 

 been, wilfully converted into the " instrument of torture," or 

 made to administer one-thii'd the amount of punishment that 



