The Harness Horse 



us quite certain on this point. Then we must 

 recollect that even if we ourselves have the gift 

 yet that others have it not. In any case it is the 

 greatest possible mistake to go into a crowd on a 

 strange horse that is under-bitted. If he gets the 

 better of you he will never be safe to use again. 

 You ought not to feel that the horse could spring 

 into his bridle and gallop off at any moment. 



The Eastern plan of beginning the horse's 

 training with a severe bit is, with certain modifi- 

 cations, a wise one. In training a young horse or 

 trying a new one, it is a wise precaution to bit 

 him in such a way that we can be master of him. 

 The old cabriolet horse of our immediate fore- 

 fathers was frequently driven with a safety rein. 

 The horse was driven habitually on the cheek, but 

 there was a second rein buckled to the lowest bar 

 which could be used in case of need. In driving 

 young and powerful horses, or trying animals of 

 which we are uncertain, it is not at all a bad plan 

 to have this second safety rein. The reins may 

 be held as we would the reins of a team or 

 tandem. We can thus drive a horse with a light 

 hand with the certainty that we can at a pinch 

 gain complete control by the use of the rein 

 buckled on to the lower bar. 



63 



