134 LIGHT HORSES : BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



which are free from this defect, but unless a horse be some 

 hot and heavy-headed brute that can hardly be restrained, 

 the abominably high ports which disfigure so many harness 

 bits should not be adopted. To provoke high action by such 

 illegitimate means is sheer cruelty. 



Then we come to the bearing rein, a piece of harness as 

 useful in its way as a kicking strap. The well-fed and easy 

 worked horse need not necessarily carry his head in the right 

 position, and it would not do for him to extend himself too 

 much in the streets of London. The bearing rein, properly 

 used not abused, mind is, in the case of a headstrong horse, 

 of material assistance to the coachman, and prevents horses 

 in double harness from getting their bits or bridles fast 

 against one another or on the pole. But there is not the 

 slightest necessity to pull up a horse's head to the extent we 

 unfortunately too often see, and directly the swivel to which 

 the bearing rein is fastened is found to be a couple of inches 

 or so above the mouthpiece of the driving bit, it may be taken 

 for granted that the coachman knows but little about the 

 science of bitting. To speak the truth, the average coach- 

 man is lamentably ignorant of bits and bitting. 



The dogcart horse does not require much notice. He may 

 be anything that will suit the cart in point of size, and the 

 work required of him, so far as his pace is concerned. He 

 should, however, have good forelegs and shoulders, inasmuch 

 as if he falls, the occupants of the cart are likely to be hurt. 

 A buggy horse should have both action and pace, and so 

 should the cobs which are driven in the now fashionable 

 varieties of two-wheeled cars and carts. 



Some of the remarks we made in connection with the train- 

 ing of the hack, apply with equal force to the harness-horse. 

 Nothing is more annoying than to have a horse which will 

 not stand while people get into a vehicle, or which as soon as 

 he has the signal to go, first rears up and then starts with a 

 bound. This habit, which is easily taught, is with difficulty 

 eradicated, and in order that it may not be acquired, the 



