256 BEARING-REIN CH. XII 



or should be kept closed in the case of a drag, but 

 it is more in conformity with road practice to let 

 them down and to pull up the glass, which keeps 

 the dust from the inside of the coach. It is not, 

 perhaps, a matter of much importance, except so 

 far as uniformity is desirable at Meets, and ' stable- 

 shutters down' is the rule at the Meets of The 

 Coaching Club at New York. 



At the New York Meets, since the rule is to have 

 a front load only, the grooms are in the rumble, and 

 there is no one inside ; at the London Meets there 

 is no rule as to loads, and the coach is sometimes 

 full on top and the grooms are inside ; in which case 

 the windows must be open, although it is stated by 

 an Officer of one of the London Clubs that it is 

 understood that the stable-shutters should be closed. 



In driving to races, picnics, and the like, the 

 grooms are frequently inside, or there is an extra 

 servant there for serving lunch, in which case the 

 windows must be open. 



For the sake of uniformity, therefore, it seems 

 better to have the windows open ; with the glass up 

 or down as may be desired. When exercising, or 

 trying horses, or giving lessons, there seems to be 

 a certain propriety in having the stable-shutters 

 closed. 



BEARING-REIN 



There is a great difference of opinion among 

 coachmen as to the use of bearing-reins, and while 

 for road work, either public or private, they have 



