412 



HARNESS. 



The Holdbacks are tlie straps which connect the rings 

 at the ends of the breeching with the shafts. In these very 

 essential parts of the harness, strength should never be 

 sacrificed to appearance. They should be made of the 

 best quality of leather, cut straight at the sides, stitched 

 coarsely at the fastening on of the buckle, and be of good 

 size. They will be stronger and more durable if made of 

 one thickness of stout leather, than if made of an equal 

 weight of two strips of tliin leather stitched together. 



The Reins should be so strong that, if the traces or 

 whiffle-tree break, the horse may draw his load by the bit ; 

 their rounded part, which should ex- 

 tend well back of the saddle terrets, 

 should be smooth and not twisted: and 

 the hand-pieces, which are best made 

 of soft russet leather, should be of a 

 size suited to the driver's hand, and 

 very pliable. The reins ma_y be sup- 

 plied with buttons to prevent the hands 

 from slipping, and the end next to 

 the bit should be enlarged, as in fig. 

 S3, to prevent the martingale rings 

 from slipping over the buckle. 



The Martingale may be of either 



the standing or ring sort, according to 



the taste of the purchaser. It is not a 



very important part of the harness, if 



the horse has been trained to carry 



his head in its, proper place. If he 



persist in running out his nose, he will 



probably be most effectually cured by 



the use of the standing martingale, 



while, if h.e have a trick of tossing his head, a rather short 



ring- martingale will ennl ]> his driver to resist or punish 



16 



Fig. 83. 



