THE COACH-HOUSE, HARNESS-ROOM, ETC. 97 



prove the appearance of the horse by removing the unfurnished 

 look about his quarters ; and, as they can be made at the same 

 time very light and very strong, it is always the safest plan 

 to use them ; for, as the phrase goes, ' It is better to be 

 sure than sorry.' Some gentlemen boast that they carry the 

 kicking-strap in the horse's mouth. This may be the profi- 

 ciency of a few, but such exquisite hands are not vouchsafed to 

 all men. Good hands are no doubt a great prevention against 

 kicking, as may be often seen ; horses that invariably kick both 

 in saddle and harness with men very seldom misbehave them- 

 selves when ridden or driven by women. Kicking-straps, then, 

 especially in London, should be looked upon as articles of 

 necessity. Some breechings are made to fit so well that they 

 act almost as efficiently, and with the addition of a short strap 

 do so perfectly, and have the additional advantage in a four- 

 wheel carriage that they help the horse considerably when going 

 downhill, or pulling up sharply. 



Blinkers are objected to by some people on various grounds, 

 but in London and all large towns, like bearing-reins and kick- 

 ing-straps, the advantages they present are considerable and 

 numerous ; if properly fitted, they do not prevent a horse from 

 seeing what is meeting him, which is really all he requires to 

 see, but they do obstruct from his view many things that might 

 alarm him that are going on behind, such as whips, sticks, 

 umbrellas being flourished about, another horse being hit, &c. 



Harness adapted to all tastes and purposes, and to all 

 pockets, can be obtained almost anywhere now in London or 

 the provinces ; and a good harness-maker will, as a rule, supply 

 what he thinks best suited to his customers, their carriages, and 

 horses. The multiplicity of crests, badges, bosses, &c., which 

 well-nigh hide all the leather used to make State harness, can 

 only be known to those who belong to the trade; if plenty of show 

 be required, the matter had best be left in professional hands. 

 It is in connection with pair-horse harness for a T-cart, a victoria, 

 or other light carriage, especially if for a lady to drive, that 

 the mistakes often begin. In harness of this description all that 



