THE HARNESS HORSE. 133 



breeds, for, like the hunter, they are frequently made up of 

 many strains. The sire of the largest will be either a Cleve- 

 land, Yorkshire Coach Horse, or thoroughbred, and sometimes 

 a Hackney ; while the dam may be of the above breeds, or 

 some kind of a half-bred, with more than ordinary action. 



For brougham, victoria or phaeton work, the Hackney blood 

 is a good deal in favour, and not without reason. Than the 

 squarely built horses about 15.2 one sometimes sees, with good, 

 but not extravagant action, nothing can be more admirable ; 

 but people who desire to preserve that grand action the pos- 

 session of which adds so vastly to the price of a horse must 

 remember that steppers are not calculated to perform long or 

 fast work. If many miles have to be covered daily, the car- 

 riage stable must be proportionately strong, for unless a horse 

 be a little above himself, he will soon lose his action ; while if 

 he be driven at any pace, the chances are that he will not be 

 long in battering his legs to pieces. 



It is apparently a matter of conscience with the majority of 

 coachmen to drive high-stepping horses with sharp bits and 

 tight bearing reins ; but the horse owner would do well to at 

 once set his face against the abuse of these, at times, necessary 

 engines. It was said just now that a horse will not continue 

 to be a stepper unless he be above himself, and being above 

 himself implies somewhat easy work, and generous not too 

 generous keep. It is obvious, therefore, that a horse whose 

 life is cast in such pleasant lines will be full of fire, and having 

 regard to the fact that he will spend much of his time in the 

 crowded streets, he would not often be a fit subject for a 

 snaffle, or to be driven at the cheek. Without any suspicion 

 of cruelty, therefore, we may safely adopt somewhat stronger 

 bitting. The question is, what bit is best for the purpose ? 

 Many people like the Liverpool pattern, which is by no 

 means destitute of advantages ; but the horse's lip some- 

 times gets pinched by the shifting mouthpiece, especially 

 in double harness, where there is always more or less lateral 

 pressure on the bit. There are, however, other patterns, 



