27O BUCKLING THE REINS CH. XII 



lower must have his rein undermath, or he will 

 be continually bearing- on the rein of his partner. 

 The same horses behave differently about the car- 

 riage of their heads on different days. 



Inasmuch as the coachman sits on the right side, 

 the near horse's coupling-rein may have to be a 

 hole longer than that of the off horse. 



To ensure the coupling and the bitting of a team 

 being correctly done, the diagram devised by Mr 

 Tiffany (Plate XXVI.) is useful. A number of 

 blanks can be printed and filled up as occasion 

 requires. The diagram in force at the time is 

 posted on the order-board of the stable. 



BUCKLING THE REINS 



The question as to whether the reins should or 

 should not be buckled together at their ends is 

 frequently discussed among coaching men, and each 

 practice has its advocates. 



The arguments against buckling are : First, that 

 in case the lead-bars should become loose, either 

 throuo-h the breaking of the pole-hook, or of the 

 eye of the main-bar, or of the bar itself, the lead- 

 reins may be pulled out of the hand, and if buckled 

 together will tear off the pads and the bridles of 

 the wheel horses. Secondly, that an appreciable 

 amount of time is lost at a change, in buckling- the 

 reins before getting up. and that they must be un- 

 buckled before arriving at a change. 



The aro-ument in favour of buckling is, that a rein 



