MUCH HARNESS UNNECESSARY. 443 



are of brass, are of course too large to be made 

 solid, and if they were, would not be sufficiently 

 strong ; consequently they are made of iron plated 

 with brass. 



Covering harness furniture with leather has 

 arrived at some perfection, but if it be iron that 

 is covered with leather, and the weather is often 

 wet, it is apt to rust through the leather. 



As regards bits, purchasers should reject every- 

 thing but the best steel bits ; they are much safer, 

 and will last much longer. Although one would 

 suppose it to be a matter almost unworthy of con- 

 sideration, yet the quality and make of the thread 

 used in stitching harness should be subjected to 

 careful scrutiny. Nothing exhibits a greater proof 

 of good harness-making than neat and tightly drawn 

 stitches, made with the best flax thread well and 

 carefully waxed ; cheap harness is frequently made 

 with a sewing-machine, but hand- made harness 

 is more durable, and is altogether better, in the 

 same way as hand-made boots are better than those 

 made by machinery. 



With four horses there should not be more harness 

 than is actually requisite ; with a good brake no breech- 

 ings are required, and loin-straps are not a positive 

 necessity. Cruppers, if worn, should never be too 

 tight, bearing-reins should be dispensed with altogether, 

 and the pole-chains sufficiently loose to allow of the 

 horses going freely, otherwise they will be too closely 

 tied to their work, and their action and pace will 

 be destroyed. The bits should not have high ports 

 or be in any way severe ; nothing is better than a 

 plain Liverpool bit with a short cheek or branch, but 

 of course the bits throughout the team should corre- 



