HA RNESS- MA KERS . 451 



and bearing-reins in common use, and, by constandy 

 agitating the matter, established his reputation as a 

 reformer in matters appertaining to driving ; and yet 

 the singular thing is that our forefathers did not use 

 bearing- reins, sometimes even did without cruppers, 

 and, in the hunting-field, never rode a horse with any- 

 thing except a plain snaffle-bit, as may be observed by 

 examining the old sporting prints of a hundred years 

 ago. 



As regards the price of four-horse harness. A com- 

 plete set of four -horse harness, with silver-plated 

 mounts, Queen's (or any other pattern) blinkers, chain 

 or enamelled leather fronts, chased rosettes, or with 

 crest or monogram, shifting mouth Buxton or Liver- 

 pool bits, straight or swelling pads, covered hames, all 

 double buckles (except for bridle or collar buckles), 

 complete with martingales or breast-plates and loin- 

 straps, hand-sewn all through, with fiat reins, costs 

 about sixty-six pounds. This includes martingales or 

 bridoons and loin-straps ; but as bridoons are only 

 used for bearing-reins, I do not think them necessary, 

 neither are martingales or loin-straps positive necessi- 

 ties, A brass-mounted four- horse harness of the best 

 kind, with all necessary furniture and fittings, costs 

 about sixty pounds. 



As for the choice of a harness-maker, that is a 

 matter best left to my readers ; but if price be no 

 object, and good material and workmanship is the 

 principal thing to be considered, one cannot do wrong 

 by employing any of the first-rate West End firms, 

 such as Wilkinson & Kidd, 5, Hanover Square ; 

 Samuel Merry & Co., 21, St. James' Street; John 

 Sowter, 18, Haymarket. But if a cheaper set of 

 harness is required, there is Mr. Davis, 10, Strand, 



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