CHAPTER X. 



HARNESS. 



Oak-bark tanning — Oil your leather — Reins — Horse beats horse — 

 Patent leather — Much harness unnecessary — Comfortable har- 

 ness—Don't use bearing-reins — A natural balance — "Sit on 

 his 'ead " — Look to your reins and bridles — Care of harness — 

 Harness should fit well — Harness-makers. 



The celebrated coaching song of the last century was 

 *' The Tantivy Trot." It ran as follows : 



Here's to the arm that can hold them when gone, 



Still to a gallop inclined, sir ; 

 Heads in the front, with no bearing-reins on, 



Tails with no cruppers behind, sir. 



If this was the coaching song of the last century, it 

 ■only proves that the coachmen of those days had more 

 good sense than is possessed by their grandchildren 

 and great-grandchildren, the coachmen of the present 

 ■day. This verse exactly expresses my own opinion as 

 to bearing-reins and cruppers : 



Heads should be to the front with no bearing-reins on, 

 Tails with no cruppers behind, sir. 



All those persons who drive four horses should 

 know something about harness ; and, in fact, any one 



