CH. XII COUPLING 267 



ened equally ; or lengthened equally if they are too 

 near together. 



The fact that a horse, when he holds his head in, 

 and curves his neck, is thereby practically lengthen- 

 ing his rein and consequently doing more than his 

 share of the work, must be carefully remembered ; 

 simple as it appears, it is not always noticed by the 

 coachman. 



Reins are frequently made with three holes in 

 the inside billet, or in both billets, the object being 

 to prevent wear by changing the places where the 

 bit touches them (see Article on Reins, in the 

 Chapter on Harness). These holes can be used to 

 alter the length of the coupling-rein, and some coach- 

 men seem to think that there is a difference between 

 shortening it in this way and in moving the buckle 

 up the draught-rein. A little reflection will show, 

 however, that it is only a question of the distance 

 between the part of the draught-rein where the 

 coupling-rein is attached, and the bit, and that it is 

 perfectly immaterial whether this distance is length- 

 ened or shortened at one end or the other, of the 

 coupling-rein. It is better to have only one hole in 

 the billet ; as a matter of fact it is rarely changed 

 for the purpose of preventing wear, and if there is 

 more than one hole and the billet is buckled in the 

 wrong one, the coupling is thereby changed without 

 the knowledge of the coachman. A renewal of the 

 billets when they show the slightest sign of wear is 

 the best precaution, and a most important one ; 



