Horse breaker's skeleton brake, model (scale 1:8)

Horse breaker's skeleton brake, model (scale 1:8)

At the beginning of the 20th Century these vehicles were in common use, particularly by horse bus companies who, at that period, were employing over 30,000 horses in the London area alone. These brakes were also used by jobmasters and horse-dealers, for training horses.

Typical of this vehicle are the high box seat and the dished wheels. At the rear of the box is a small platform upon which a stable-hand was able to stand and also jump on and off easily. Sometimes the pole and splinter-bar were padded with leather to minimise damage. The horse to be broken to harness was, in the first instance, paired with an old reliable brake horse, sometimes known as the "School Master".