OR, The Turn Out. 53 



its hidden substitute — the " Gag Bit " (see illustration), has 

 done. The cruel roof- working oT the gag bit can be seen at a 

 o^lance, and the imaginary charges and ridiculous illus- 

 trations that have been published against the bearing rein 

 are an insult to the many owners of horses, and proprietors 

 of large establishments, who think proper, and are perfectly 

 justified in using their own discretion, in adopting any 

 means they ma}' try or decide upon for the safety of the 

 "Turn Out," as the result of experience, blended with 

 humane feeling for the horse, and care for the public safety ; 

 and the Author contends that his argument is conclusive 

 when the fact becomes generally known, that the majority of 

 the largest and richest individual horse-owners in the kingdom 

 adopt, and are hnown to use, the bearing rein, to all animals 

 where speed and blood are in hand, which fact is proved by 

 the notice that appeared in the Saddlers'' and Coach-Builders* 

 Gazette, dated June 1st, 1877, viz. : — That at the recent 

 meeting of the Coaching (four-in-hand) Cluh, in Hyde Park, it 

 was observed that all the Horses, save in three or four instances, 

 u'ore bearing reins.* 



This notice is sufficient to endorse the writer's words that 

 the bearing rein is neither more nor less than a legitimate part 

 of the set, and, that no harness room is complete without it.f 

 One bearing rein with plain covered furniture can be used to 

 any pattern single harness, so there is no real necessity for 

 an extra rein to every set. 



There may be some persons who, at a loss for fair argu- 

 ment would say, that the Author, being an harness maker, 

 is interested in the manufacture and sale of the bearing rein. 

 Such argument is not worth entertaining, considering the 

 fact that the cost of a bearing rein is so very nominal, and 

 little or no difference is made to the customer or manufacturer 

 whether that rein is supplied or not, as far as the cost of the set 

 or sets go. And, in conclusion, we would remark that if the 

 amateur or prejudiced enemy of the bearing rein would 

 hasten his non-success as a horse-breaker, he has only tc 



♦ It is said that the horse does not know its own strength, hence our control 

 over it in the shafts. Therefore the writer considers the strengtli and presence 

 of mind of one man on the box behind a team of fom' high-bred, well-corned, noble 

 animals altogether inadequate, particularly in crowded thoroughfares, with 

 vehicles before him and behind him, without the assistance of the bearing rein. 



t A friend's simile in conversation, respecting the use and abuse of the 

 bearing rein, was, that with restive and over-fresh horses, it is much the same as 

 a drill-sergeant to the raw recruit, the natui'al position of the latter being known 

 as "all over the shop." 



