HARNESS. 125 



In double harness the breeching is often dispensed with. For 

 the head there is the bridle, which is composed of the head- 

 stall and bit or bits, to which are attached the reins, sometimes 

 the bearing-rein, and the curb-chain. 



The collar is a very important part of the harness, and is 

 that which is usually put on first in the operation of harnessing. 

 It consists of two portions, leather and metal ; the first is the 

 collar proper, composed mainly of leather stuffed with hair, 

 straw, or some other appropriate material, and fitting around 

 the neck, close to the shoulders ; the other is the hames of 

 metal, one lying on each side of the collar, both being joined 

 by links at the bottom, with rings or terrets towards their 

 upper part for the reins to pass through, and towards the 

 middle an eye, or some other contrivance, for the attachment 

 of the trace. 



On the fitting of the collar and point of attachment of the 

 traces the comfort of the horse and his efficiency in draught 

 greatly depend; these points, therefore, should receive close 

 attention. A collar too small presses upon the windpipe and 

 causes distress to the horse, especially if the draught be heavy, 

 and particularly if it be up-hill draught ; while a collar too 

 large interferes with the movement of the shoulders, has not 

 a proper bearing, and has, consequently, a great tendency to 

 bruise or chafe the shoulders. Speaking of heavy draught- 

 horse collars, Reynolds remarks : " The collar, intended as it 

 is to supply a cushion for the reception of shocks, and afford 

 relief to pressure under heavy and continual draught, cannot 

 well be too bulky nor too accurately adjusted. Great suffering 

 is entailed, and horses are prone to become vicious and shy 

 workers by being worked in collars too small, or unadapted to 

 special conformation of shoulder, or rendered uncomfortable 

 and irritating by wear or the accumulation of filth. Under 

 severe up-hill draught, the collar will sometimes choke the 

 horse by pressure upon the lower part of the windpipe. This 



