TRAINING FOR DRAUGHT. 261 



more or less inclined to the horizon, according to the 

 height of the animal used. The consequence is, that, if 

 the front wheels be very low and the horse or pony a little 

 tall in proportion, the short breeching acts downwards, 

 not horizontally as it should; the pressure on the 

 animal's hind quarters becomes then very annoying to 

 it, ending not unfrequently in a kicking match, besides 

 which the carriage is not effectually held back. 



Reviewing the whole matter one can scarcely avoid 

 arriving at the conclusion, that although a great number 

 of horses willingly endure the crupper, a great many 

 others, especially mares and young animals, will not do 

 so, and with them it becomes an incitement to vice of 



one kind or the other, either W > stable or in draught, 



many accidents occurring in consequence, and finally 

 that it may be very well dispensed with in all cases. 



Connected with this subject is another matter which 

 may as well be treated of here; namely, the use of 

 other contrivances, besides the breeching and the pole- 

 chains, for moderating the movement of a carriage. In 

 former times we had in the British Islands nothing but 

 a skid or shoe, which was placed under one wheel, and 

 to attach or detach this the vehicle had to be halted in 

 every case. On the Continent various contrivances were 

 in use analogous to the brakes now used for railway 

 waggons and trucks, which admit of the moderating 

 power being applied or removed whilst the vehicle is 

 in motion; and one now frequently sees, especially in 

 hilly districts, and in general for country work, various 

 forms of brake applied to pony-carriages, four-wheeled 

 dog-carts, and other vehicles. There are one or two little 

 difficulties about these brakes which may be easily 

 remedied or avoided. First of all, the pieces of wood, 



