CH. XI BRIDLE 1 97 



a face-drop which goes under the front, and usually 

 has the monogram on it. This is entirely ornamental 

 and is omitted in public-coach harness. On one 

 side, the nose-band has a loop which goes on the 

 billet of the side of the bridle to keep the nose- 

 band from slipping round, and on the other side, it 

 passes between the side of the bridle and the billet, 

 so that it can be tightened by the buckle which is 

 under the chin. Ordinarily, the nose-band is more 

 an ornament than anything else, but, with a high-port 

 bit on a pulling horse, it may be buckled somewhat 

 tight to prevent the horse from opening his mouth 

 too wide, and thereby escaping the action of the 

 bit ; then, it is useful. When a side-rein is used to 

 hold back a pulling horse, it may be buckled to the 

 nose-band, which then acts as a cavesson. 



In the wheel-horse's bridle, the ring through 

 which the leader's rein runs, is fastened on in 

 several ways. In Fig. 84 it is shown as brazed 

 to a flat loop or band, which slips on to the crown- 

 piece, and is kept in its place by the buckles below 

 it. This brings the ring close under the boss and 

 above the flower. It can be readily taken off when 

 the bridle is used in a pair-harness. 



Another way is to have the ring sewed on the 

 throat-latch under its buckle, as is done in public- 

 coach harness, as in Fig. 85 ; it is then further below 

 the boss, and the flower may be put through the 

 buckle over it. Thus arranged, the rein comes 

 straighter to the pad-terret, but it rubs the sur- 



