HINTS TO BEGINNERS. 137 



I once had the driving for a season of a grey mare, a deter- 

 mined kicker. She was put into my hands leader in a team with- 

 out bearing-reins ; soon after starting she put her head down 

 and kicked in a very determined manner, and I had a great 

 difficulty in getting her head up. I took her out and went to the 

 stable with a pair, then put a bearing-rein on her and put her 

 in again. I could then manage her, and drove her for three 

 months, and a right good one she was ; she kicked occasion- 

 ally, but I could manage her, which I could not have done 

 without a bearing-rein. 



The question of what is the best bit to put on a pulling 

 horse can only be decided by experience and by trying different 

 bits ; some horses' necks are so shaped that they look as if they 

 were intended to be pullers ; but horses' mouths are often 

 spoilt by those who first handle and break them. Some horses 

 that pull hard in curb bridles will not pull in ring snaffles ; 

 some will not pull against an upright port, and some will not 

 pull against a port hanging down ; other horses will be irritated 

 by either of these bits. As a rule, easy and simple T)its are 

 the best ; but hard-and-fast rules cannot be followed, because 

 horses differ so much in shape and make. The horse with a 

 weak neck, that carries his head high, is not a puller as a rule ; 

 but I have seen horses with arched necks that could put 

 their chins against their chests, and so deprive the driver of all 

 power over them. In such a case the bearing-rein is indis- 

 pensable, as it prevents the horse from putting his head where 

 he likes. 



The beginner should also learn the use of side reins. It is 

 not often that they are required, but I have known them to be 

 most useful. I remember a brown mare, belonging to the 

 Duke of Beaufort, that generally went off-side leader ; the right 

 side of her mouth had apparently no sense of feeling, and she 

 hung on the rein in a way most uncomfortable and tiring to 

 the coachman's arm ; the side rein made her one of the best 

 leaders I ever saw. Of course side reins must be adjusted to a 

 nicety, but when so adjusted I have known several instances 

 where they have acted admirably. 



