198 



THROAT-LATCH RING 



CH. XI 



face of the winker. The throat-latch in this case 

 should not be a part of the crown-piece, as is usual 

 in pair-horse harness, but should be separate, with 

 a buckle at each end, so that it can be removed 

 and a plain throat-latch without a ring, substituted 



when desired. When using 

 four-in-hand harness for pair- 

 horse work, it is in better 

 taste to remove the parts 

 which are only necessary for 

 four horses. It is a good plan 

 to have the harness so made 

 that it can be used for either 

 purpose, and it keeps in 

 much better order when in constant use, and is fre- 

 quently cleaned and oiled, than when hung up and 

 allowed to become dry. Two sets of four-in-hand 

 harness, thus arranged, will serve the requirements 

 of a large private stable for pair-horse work, and will 

 make it possible to turn out two teams for a change 

 of horses. 



Carrying the lead-reins over the heads of the 

 wheelers has now gone out of fashion ; twenty-five 

 years ago it was almost universal for drags, but be- 

 fore that time it was being gradually abandoned on 

 public-coaches. * 



Fig. 85. 



* In a print, after W. J. Shaver, published in 1841, of the Duke 

 of Beaufort's public-coach, the lead-reins are through the throat- 

 latch rings. This is the earliest print in which that arrangement is 

 shown, that has come under my notice. 



