DRIVING, RIDING, HUNTING, RACE-RIDING 387 



to be able to use all the power of his legs in holding hard- 

 pulling horses, or in stopping them suddenly, but it is a 

 mistake to have it so high that he is almost standing bolt 

 upright. Then if he receives a sudden jerk, such as is given 

 v^hen a horse falls, he is apt to be pulled off the box. On 

 the other hand, if the seat is too low the driver feels 

 cramped, and cannot exert his full strength. He should 

 keep his legs straight before him, close together, with the 

 feet turned slightly out, for nothing gives a greater impres- 

 sion of slovenliness than to see a coachman with legs wide 

 apart, or with toes turned in ; whilst as for crossing one leg 

 over the other it " gives the show away at once " ! Apart 

 from the unsightliness, it is at once evident that the driver 

 has no idea how to apply his strength to the best advan- 

 tage, and is at the mercy of his horses, and of luck ! Any 

 sudden call upon him will find him wanting in ability to 

 cope with it. 



The right hand should always be ready to catch hold of 

 the off-rein, and when this is called for all the four fingers 

 should be placed upon the rein, and not just one or two, 

 which cannot provide for the full power of the arm. 



The Whip. 



The whip should be held loosely at the metal collar, 

 which ought to be placed at the exact spot where the whip 

 will balance in the hand without being grasped, merely 

 being supported by the thumb and the outside edge of the 

 palm, when the whole hand is at liberty to grasp the off- 

 rein at any moment. It should be held parallel to the 

 dashboard, for it is bad form to hold it poking forward like 

 a fishing-rod, detracting greatly from the smartness of the 

 appearance. With a dogcart, or a carriage and pair, the 

 thong may catch in the wheel if the whip is allowed to 

 droop, and so get broken ; and the proper position for it to 

 be held is so that the stick slants across the body, just 

 crossing the point of the left shoulder. With a four-in- 

 hand the coachman sits a long way above the wheel, and in 

 addition the thong is curled in a " double thong," so there 



