xix] 



BEARING-REINS 



225 



made rich men, having no knowledge of horses, 

 allow their horses to rest completely in the hands 

 of their coachmen and grooms who use this 

 unnecessary appendage to the detriment and 

 discomfort of the animals." 



An American paper says : " There was a long 

 line of carriages in front of the building, and 

 many of the horses were suffering most intensely 

 from tight bearing-reins, while their owners 

 were weeping over the woes of the animals of 

 the poor inside the building." 



The Evening Standard says : " Not only are 

 such fashions cruel, but their adoption spoils 

 good horses and indicates that the coachman 

 knows little of his business." 



The Times says : " Many are the evils of this 

 bearing-rein, especially when coupled with one 

 or other of the atrocious bits now in use." 



891. Lord Portsmouth says: "I never allow 

 bearing-reins in my establishment, nor did my 

 father before me ; I am sure they are useless 

 and cruel." 



The late Baroness Burdett-Coutts said : 

 "Their use shows a want of information and 

 knowledge of a horse." 



The Duke of Westminster said : " I would 

 venture to appeal to owners to give express 

 directions to their coachmen to loosen these bear- 

 ing-reins." 



Lord Leigh, the well-known horseman, 

 writes : " London horses are much to be pitied ; 

 the use of the bearing-rein is stupid and cruel." 



John Wesley, who read Homer's " Iliad " and 

 " Odyssey " on horseback, stated that the reason 

 his horse never stumbled was because he left 

 the reins hanging loose on the neck. 



Sir Francis Head says : " The bearing-rein is 

 an unnecessary, inexcusable and barbarous piece 

 of cruelty. No horse can be properly mouthed 

 or driven unless the rein is extremely loose." 



The following is reproduced by kind per- 

 mission of Mr. J. A. Livingston, proprietor of the 

 Canadian Sportsman, Grimsby, Ontario. 



" The most noble animal in God's creation, 

 The pride and boast of every nation ; 

 From birth to youth, when kindly reared, 

 He's petted, loved, by all endeared. 

 With few exceptions, if truth be told, 

 He's often worth his weight in gold. 

 From youth to age he'll do his part 

 With all his might, or break his heart. 

 He's fought our battles, won our race, 

 When kindly urged will go the pace. 

 The friend of King, of Prince, or Tsar, 

 But does not like a motor-car. 

 With champing steel and restless paw. 

 He waits outside his lordship's door ; 

 Eager to start with dashing speed, 

 The cruel whip he does not need. 

 When kindness greets his listening ear, 

 He'll safely take you far and near. 

 With mournful pride and pluming crest, 

 He takes us to our final rest." 



EQUUS EST. 



2 D 



