Abstract: At the end of a hot-rolling train, a metal length (bar or wire) is passed through a final roll stand and then through a cooling device. To keep the length under tension in the cooling device, it is pulled frictionally by an opposed pair of bridle rolls which are driven, while the length is passing, with a power input which would, in the absence of the length, be sufficient to cause a peripheral speed of the bridle rolls slightly higher than the rolling speed of the length. To prevent the leading end of the metal length being twisted or otherwise damaged on entry into the bridle rolls, the bridle rolls are driven at a slightly higher peripheral speed immediately prior to the entry of the metal length.