INTRODUCTION. 19 



wheel-horse through the centre terret of the pad, and the 

 horses are ready to start. Some gentlemen have a fancy for 

 running the leading rein over the wheel-horse's head, and it 

 certainly looks better and smarter, but there are many reasons 

 why running them on the outside is preferable. In the first place, 

 if a leader pulls, there is considerable pressure on the top of 



the wheel-horse's head ; and, in the second place, if the wheel- 

 horse throws his head up much, it perpetually checks the 

 leaders. With the exception that it is keeping the rein further 

 away from the wheelers' tails, I do not know that there is any 

 advantage in running the rein over their heads. Should one of 

 the leaders be in the habit of getting his tail over his rein, and 



