CH. XII BEARING-REIN 26l 



may have a useful effect with a horse that is inclined 

 to go in a slovenly way. 



On a journey, or in driving a strange team without 

 bearing-reins, it is a good plan to have in the coach 

 at least one bearing-rein with its proper bit, to be 

 slipped on a troublesome horse if necessary, and 

 for this reason it is wise to have centre-hooks on the 

 pads of all harness, even if they are not habitually 

 used. In the absence of the centre-hook, the rein 

 can be attached to the pad by a short strap, such as 

 should be always carried among the spare articles. 

 If bearing-reins are used, the lead-harness must, of 

 course, have cruppers. 



As to appearance, the less leather there is about 

 a horse's neck the better ; and this is especially 

 true of short-necked horses. 



In nearly all cases, a properly adjusted bearing- 

 rein will be somewhat slack when the horse is 

 moving, and it will shake about in an unseemly 

 way, noticeable from the top of the coach, if not 

 from the ground ; which is the reason for having 

 the housing-straps formerly used. 



Bearing-reins are made in two ways, as already 

 described and as shown in Fig. 93. It is sometimes 

 considered that the double, or pulley-rein, is easier 

 for the horse, because the bit plays backward and 

 forward upon the round part of the rein when the 

 horse tosses his head, but it is much heavier and 

 more complicated than the single rein, which, in my 

 opinion, is to be preferred for its simplicity. 



