How TO USE Bearing-reins. 361 



of the tramway-car horses — i.e., nothing more than a collar and traces, and bridles with their 

 reins, without blinkers. 



After all, it is, no doubt, much a matter of taste. It has been suggested that American 

 trotting horses are driven without "blinds," that they may see when their rivals are overtaking 

 them. 



BEARING-REINS : THEIR USE AND ABUSE. 



The bearing-reins are buckled either to a separate snaffle when a double bridle is used, 

 or to the cheek of a Pelham bit, then passed through rings suspended from the head-stall, 

 and hooked on a metal peg or hook provided for the purpose in the harness-pad. 



This is the proper form, if a bearing-rein is to be used at all ; but the fashionable 

 bearing-rein consists of a round rein passing from a point of the head-stall at the joining 

 of the frontlet, through a swivel attached to a snaffle-bit, through another ring, and then 

 drawn to any degree of tightness a coachman may fancy over the pad-hook. This is the gag 

 bearing-rein. 



The object of a bearing-rein properly applied is to divide the weight upon the driver's 

 hands ; so that whenever the horse droops his head below a certain point, his mouth will 

 come upon the bit of the bearing-rein, instead of leaning on the driver's hands. It causes a 

 horse to bring his haunches better under him, prevents him from having too much liberty of 

 head and neck, and removes the temptation of a horse full of beans to set to or run off 

 with his driver. 



It is also intended to prevent horses when standing still from dropping their heads in a 

 very inelegant manner, rubbing them against each other or against the pole, to which, if 

 there is a crossbar to the bit, they are likely to get fixed, when a frightful accident would 

 be almost inevitable. 



There are some horses that it is difficult for a strong man, and quite dangerous for a 

 lady, to drive without bearing-reins — that is, with their heads free ; and there are times when 

 naturally docile horses are so fresh that it is advisable to put on bearing-reins, and this even 

 with horses that carry their heads naturally in the beautiful form which it is vainly attempted 

 to imitate with gag-reins. 



The proper and only way in which bearing-reins should be allowed is when two con- 

 ditions are observed : first, the snaffle-bit, instead of being drawn up into the cheeks, wrinkling 

 and almost tearing them, should hang full a quarter of an inch from the corners of the month ; 

 next, the bearing-rein should be of such a length that the moment the horse raises his head 

 to move into a trot it should become amply slack. A horse that habitually carries his head 

 and neck like a pig is not fit for a pleasure carriage ; but there are many intermediate stages 

 between the grand style of head and neck at p. 347, which needs no bearing-rein, and many a 

 very good harness-horse. 



Fitted as above directed, the bearing-reins will do no harm, and will prevent a pair of 

 fresh horses in the hands of a fair driver from getting their heads first down, then up and 

 away at the pace of destruction. 



But this is not the sort of " fit " that satisfies your London coachman of the highest 

 fashion. He begins by drawing up the gag-bit until he has enlarged the horse's mouth by 

 at least a couple of inches. He then adds a curb-bit of an inch too wide and four inches too 

 long, quite regardless of the size of the horse's mouth, and having curbed this up tight, takes 

 up the reins, climbs on his box, and makes, whether moving or standing at a door, a display 

 U U 



