TRAINING FOB DRAUGHT. 257 



in default, their Joss may be generally traced to want 

 of power, the team pulls too hard or bores too heavily 

 for the ladies' muscular powers to withstand, and 

 rigidity ensues. Kecourse is then had to sharper bit- 

 ting, which although sometimes successful is much 

 more frequently the reverse, and very often leads to fresh 

 complications ; whereas a judicious use of the bearing- 

 rein would solve the difficulty at once. 



Why the bearing-rein should have such an effect 

 will be easily recognised by anyone who will take the 

 trouble and has the opportunity of observing how horses 

 when left to themselves modify their carriage, especially 

 that of the head and neck, to suit the speed and 

 changes of direction of their movements. If a tolerably 

 fresh horse be turned loose in a field, especially one in 

 which other strange horses are present, it will be seen, 

 in most instances, after a few cautious movements, with 

 the neck erect and its weight thrown well back on 

 its haunches, in the attitude of preparation for any 

 emergency, suddenly to bolt off with the head and 

 neck brought " down more and more as it extends 

 itself and increases its pace, whilst reconnoitring the 

 ground and its new companions in a wide circle round 

 them. And this is precisely what a frightened horse 

 will do in harness unless checked by the bearing-rein, 

 which, if of a proper length, will prevent the animal 

 from laying itself out with extended head and neck 

 and throwing all its weight on the fore legs, which 

 of course leaves the hind pair their maximum power 

 of propulsion. 



Of course, if teams have to travel at the top of their 

 speed, as in the old coaching-days for instance, the 

 bearing-reins must be slackened or cast loose altogether, 



