224 REINS CH. XI 



rower than the trace (under which it is buckled in 

 the tug-buckle), passing behind the horse to the tug- 

 buckle on the other side, as nearly horizontally as 

 possible ; it is held up by a split strap which passes 

 through or under the back-strap, over the horse's 

 hip. It may be doubled by a wider strap where it 

 passes behind the horse. 



Since the breeching- is not now in fashion, it is 

 hardly necessarv to describe it more in detail, but 

 it may be said that if for any reason a breeching is 

 used, it must be carefully put on, neither too high 

 nor too low. It is apt to chafe a horse not used to 

 wear it, and the modern brake and the shoe should 

 be together quite sufficient. 



In the Sporting Magazine of 1830, ' Nimrod' 

 speaks as if the breeching should be attached to the 

 pole-pieces, and criticises the custom in Germany of 

 attaching it to the breast-collar. His remarks sue- 

 gest the arrangement that can still be seen on heavy 

 wagons in New England cities, where a long yoke 

 crosses the point of the pole, and to this yoke, and 

 not to the trace-tugs, the ends of the breeching, 

 lengthened by straps, are fastened. 



Reins. — The reins are made of russet leather 

 and should all be of the same width throughout. 

 One inch is a good width, suiting the average coach- 

 man. Some men with long, thin fingers prefer to 

 have them a little wider, while other persons, women 

 especially, like them an eighth of an inch narrower. 



