THE LEVEE, THE BIT AND CUBE, ETC. 197 



billet of the reins is habitually fastened into a ring 

 that is not too far distant from the rivet of the mouth- 

 piece (line of bearing), still the weight of the projecting 

 portion must always affect the leverage of the whole 

 instrument, and nothing is gained by it except being 

 in the fashion. 



It would be quite another thing with a bit whose 

 lower cheek was of the proper dimensions, and in 

 proper proportion to the upper cheek, to put a second 

 ring or eye for the rein somewhat higher, upon the 

 principle of what we have called the dumpy bit, Fig. 15 ; 

 and we should then have the upper portion of the 

 cheek If inch, and the lower portion to the point 

 where the rein is attached 3^ inches long, with an 

 intermediate ring f ths of an inch higher up ; that is 

 to say, at 2f inches from the line of bearing. This 

 lighter leverage would be then available for young 

 horses when firsb being trained in harness, or for trained 

 horses when it is desirable to make them throw their 

 weight more into the collar for a long and rapid 

 journey. 



A word with regard to the reins for double harness, 

 which may be useful. If the driver sits so that his left 

 hand holding the reins comes to be exactly over the pole 

 of the carriage that is to say, in its longitudinal axis 

 then, the outer reins of both horses being of precisely 

 the same length from the point of attachment of the 

 rein to the driver's hand, the two inner or coupling- 

 reins should also be made equal in length ; but if the 

 driver sits to the right of that central point, as is 

 usually the case, then the outer rein of the near horse 

 will be longer than that of the off horse, and the 

 inner or cross-reins must be adjusted so as to give 



