84 



HINTS ON HORSES 



The leaders pull on the driver's hand 

 through the reins, and owing to their seldom 

 being in the collar they keep fresh and act 

 as pacers to the team. 



The central pairs strain after the leaders, 

 but the weight is thrust on the carriage 

 through the traces, and not on the coachman's 

 hand. Consequently he need exert no greater 

 strength in piloting a properly harnessed team 

 of ten than a team of four. 



With these big teams a longer and heavier 

 whip than an ordinary four-horse whip is 

 required. A second man, as a rule, sits on the 

 box beside the coachman with the reins. This 

 man is generally possessed of great skill, and 

 keeps all the laggards of the team up to their 

 work. 



In drawing a coach, it is quite worth paying 

 attention to the coachman's whip. A well- 

 caught-up loop looks workmanlike. A big 

 loop halfway down the stock looks slovenly, 

 and one knows that it will soon come down 

 altogether. A long flying lash, unless the 



coachman is striking the leaders, is quite 

 absurd. If the wheelers are being touched 

 with the whip, it should be with the double 

 thong of the loop of the whip. There is one 

 stroke in which the professional Jehu strikes 

 all four horses in succession with the single 

 thong in one backward and forward sweeping 

 stroke. 



The driver catches the thong on the stock 

 of the whip close above his hand, and lets it 

 fall under his thumb. He then with a figure- 

 of-eight movement loops the thong. In windy 

 weather he often catches the thong on his 

 forearm. 



He holds the whip-handle near the upper 

 collar, his hand being a few inches up from 

 the butt. This balances the whip in his 

 hand. 



Some whips are bent in the stock. This 

 allows the rain to drip off in wet weather 

 without running into the driver's hand. 

 Notice also the indiarubber ring on 'bus- 

 drivers' whips for a similar purpose. 



