THIS much-mooted subject seems deserving of a chapter by itself, and while the author feels that bearing reins can very properly be used and not abused, that there are times when they are essential and times when they are more than superfluous, he prefers to put his personal views to one side and to allow the reader to form his own opinion, either from experience or from the criticisms of the well-known coachmen who are quoted below. The quotations cover a period of fifty years, and show that during that time there has been considerable diversity of opinion on the question at issue.

The Duke of Beaufort, in Driving, says : From long experience, end having saved many broken knees by their use, we advocate bearing reins-especially in single harness-put on with sense and discretion, so as never to be so short as to annoy a horse in any way, and always when standing for any time to be unborne."

Major Dixon and others, in the chapter on The