ABOUT DRIVING. 165 



handling and stopping of tlie horse's toes and knees 

 close together, the upper arms held down perpen- 

 dicularly, and close to the body, forming at the elbow 

 a right angle with the under arms ; the hands 

 straight with the under arm and placed before the 

 middle of the body with the wrists slightly rounded 

 off. 



The reins are held in the left hand ; the left rein 

 on top, between thumb and first finger ; the right rein 

 between second and thhd fingers. 



Both reins should be equal in length and just 

 tight enough to feel the horses' mouths, but not too 

 tight. The whip should be held in the right hand 

 in an oblique direction, pointing to the left and for- 

 ward toward the ear of the near horse ; the lower, 

 thicker end of the whip, according to its length, ex- 

 tending downward for a length of about four inclies 

 below the hand. The whip-hand should be placed 

 near the left hand, on the same height, or slightly 

 forward. 



The well-trained coachman, seated on the box, 

 shouhl, in waiting before the house, sit perfectly still 

 and straight, avoiding all twisting and turning of his 

 body. 



STARTING. 



The driver, holding the rein-hand (left) perfectly 

 quiet, should give the hint to his horses for starting 



