OR, The Turn Oht. 55 



upon it for an hour or more together, perhaps at full gallop ? 

 How much soever humanity towards the horse may be 

 enjoined, regard for our oivn sjyecies must prevail, and no horse 

 in a coach or a post chaise is safe without a bearing rein, 

 and for this reason, he is in constant danger from having 

 his head at liberty, of loosing his bridle by rubbing his head 

 against the pole, or against the other horse, and an accident 

 is almost sure to happen." 



Therefore, we will now leave the reader to his best discre- 

 tion as regards the bearing rein, and advise him to study seriously 

 before he resolves to use or abandon it, or to advise others 

 either for or against it. We will now proceed with our advices 

 and suggestions as "to fitting," and other items of the 

 whole set. 



It is not necessary to say, that for safety, the quality of the 

 leather and furniture of the set of harness should be of the 

 best, but it is necessary to intimate that no matter how good 

 the make and quality may be, equal danger attends the 

 " Turn Out " if the harness be not properly and judiciously 

 fitted. The horse must never be buckled tight to its work, 

 particularly at the traces ; special care should be paid to 

 the traces, in seeing that they are punched true, and buckled 

 equal length each side. The piped or long loops should be 

 well sewn in with strong threads, and creased, chequered, 

 and bevilled by hand. If narrow loops are used throughout, 

 they should be firm and nicely blocked; loose and flimsy 

 loops are useless for the purpose intended after a few showers 

 of rain, and are very unsightly. Long breechbands running 

 up to the tugs are rather ancient and complicated, and add 

 to the expense and weight of the harness — short breech- 

 bands answer the same purpose, and are lighter for the 

 horse to carry. If the set be regular best, it should be sewn 

 four rows throughout (by hand preferred); if it be second 

 quality, one row round is the rule, except in the traces and 

 backhand, which should be always four rows; and if plain 

 harness be ordered, it will be single solid leather in parts 

 other than the traces, backhand, tugs, and breech band, 

 which are always lined, with the exception of the traces 

 used in tramway and such work, which are made wider, and 

 of stouter solid leather. 



In running a horse without winkers for the first time, 

 great care is necessary ; and the whip should be kept in the 

 socket. These items may seem of small moment to the 



