IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. 159 



readily changed his position, and moved wherever 

 they pleased to lead him. I have no inference to 

 draw from this, except a caution even to the most 

 experience whips, against tandems ! I mention it as 

 a tribute of gratitude to my poor horse, who showed 

 at least as much sense as his master. Young gentle- 

 men, however, who disregard my caution, as doubt- 

 less nineteen out of twenty will, may thank me for a 

 hint of which I have experienced the advantage. 

 Tandems are rarely seen now ; but those who still 

 drive a leader, generally attach his traces to an eye 

 in the traces of the shaft-horse : this looks better, 

 but is not so safe as the old-fashioned way of hook- 

 ing them to the end of the shaft. By the first plan, 

 the stumbling of the shaft-horse is aggravated into a 

 decided fall, for the animal is actually pulled down 

 by the continued motion of the leader ; by the old 

 plan, the shaft-horse is allowed time to recover a 

 casual trip, and is even assisted ; the weight of the 

 carriage being relieved by the shafts being retained 

 by the leader's traces in a horizontal position. The 

 greatest danger in tandem-driving arises from the 

 stumbling of the shaft-horse ; it therefore, follows 

 that if either of the team is distrusted in his feet or 

 legs, he should be driven leader. 



