CHAPTEE XVI 

 DRIVING, RIDING, HUNTING, RACE-RIDING 



Deiving. 



A FEW words may well be devoted to the harness. Brass 

 and plated mounts should be kept clean by rubbing 

 with a woollen cloth or a chamois leather, and for the 

 former lemon-juice may be used with a flannel to clean 

 it on emergency, but for ordinary use nothing is better than 

 Globe Polish. Whiting is required for silver-plated mounts, 

 but not plate-powder if the harness is patent leather, lest 

 it should burn or scratch it ; and for all black leather, 

 whether patent or ordinary, Harris's composition is quite 

 excellent. Steel work should be thrown into a pail of 

 water at once on being brought into the harness-room, 

 to soften the mud and dirt, and should then be wiped dry 

 and polished with a burnisher, any rust being removed at 

 once with very soft and fine silver sand. 



When buckling straps together, such as the end of the 

 reins, the rule should be kept in mind that all buckles point 

 to the right, the reason being that then the right hand pulls 

 in the easiest direction for unbuckling the strap. 



The stitching of the harness has an important bearing 

 on its appearance, and the thread should be very regular, 

 as will be seen in all high-class work. 



The neck collar in the best work is always covered with 

 patent leather on the outside, and the inside is stuffed with 

 straw. A collar must fit the depressions on both shoulders, 

 and neither be so narrow as to pinch the neck, nor so loose 

 as to roll about. Either misfit will soon begin to gall and 



