In a message dated 2/18/2006 2:22:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, mars@xxxxxxxxx writes: Part 17 of one of our rule books indicate that for multiple hitches including pairs, tandems, 4 and 6-in-hand, that britching is not to be used. I am very surprised by that, What Rule Book? I would not drive a coach without it and always have used britching for CDE, pair or four. Dressage I sometimes skipped the britching. A fully loaded coach weights north of 4,000 pounds and on a hill I think it could be very dangerous without it. Douglas Kemmerer Hawks Hill Middleburg, VA 20118