Stable Vices. 89 



bit, the driving-reins untwisted from the tercet, and the 

 two buckled together, and the horses are ready. The 

 leaders of a tandem or four-in-hand are easily attached, 

 and their reins are passed through the rings on the head 

 of the wheelers, and through the upper half of the pad 

 terret. 



Unharnessing is exactly the reverse of the above, every- 

 thing being undone exactly in the same order in which it 

 was done. The chief errors in either are — in double har- 

 ness, in not attaching the pole-piece at once in putting-to, 

 or in unbuckling it altogether too soon, by which the horse 

 is at liberty to get back upon the bars, and often does 

 considerable damage by kicking. 



Cleaning Harness, &c. 



Both single and double harness should be of the best 

 leather and workmanship. 



The harness for carriage horses of all sorts is too well 

 known to need repetition here j the only difference is that 

 some prefer it very neat, and only use what is absolutely 

 necessary, while others like it covered with plate or brass, 

 and use as much as they can possibly get on the horse. 

 The price will vary according to the amount of plate or 

 brass-work on it. A set of single harness will cost from 

 £\2 to £16, or even more ; and a set of double harness 

 from ^25 to £$$. Care must always be taken that the 

 collars are deep enough, otherwise the horse's shoulders 

 will suffer. The proper way to fit a collar is to hold the 

 horse's head up as high as he usually carries it when going, 

 and then leave room to put the hand in comfortably. 

 ' ; Many horses, particularly those defective in the wind, 

 go better in a pipe collar. On coming in from use, the 

 bits, terrets, &c, should first be removed, then the harness, 

 if dirty, should be carefully washed clean, but not made 

 more wet than absolutely necessary, then dried in the har- 

 ness-room, but not put near the fire ; when dry it should 

 be thoroughly done over with some harness paste or polish, 

 and well brushed bright. The bits and terrets, &c, are 

 also cleaned and polished, and everything is ready for use. 



