DRIVING 



to the astonishment of the spectators and discomfort of 

 the horses they have in charge. 



The methods of holding the reins naturally vary according 

 to the number of horses which are being driven, the following 

 arrangements being the correct ones. In the case of single 

 horses or pairs the near rein is placed between the thumb 

 and fore-finger and the off rein between the second and third 

 fingers ; whilst in tandem and four-horse driving the near 

 leader's rein passes between the thumb and fore-finger, the 

 off leader's and the near wheeler's reins between the first and 

 second fingers, and the off wheeler's between the third and 

 fourth fingers. The reins in all cases should be grasped 

 firmly and placed low down on the fingers near the palms of 

 the hand. The whip should always be carried between the 

 thumb and first finger of the right hand so as to leave the 

 fingers at liberty to assist the left ones in manipulating the 

 reins, and the left hand holding the reins should be about 

 4 inches in front of the pit of the driver's stomach, with 

 the right hand in turn in front of it, the wrists straight, and 

 elbows close to the sides. The body should be straight, 

 the head well held up, and the legs kept almost touching, 

 with the feet on a properly constructed foot-rest, which is far 

 preferable to a bar for the purpose, as the latter is liable to 

 cause accidents by the feet catching in it. 



In the case of pairs it is necessary to see that the traces 

 and coupling reins are of the proper length, but the 

 latter can always be adjusted by taking them up or letting 

 them out a hole or two after a start has been made ; and 

 this is often necessary when strange horses are being driven, 

 as one of them may require more liberty for his head 

 than the other. In harnessing, the first thing to do is to 

 secure the horses to the pole by the pole chains or pole pieces, 

 then the outside traces should be fixed in position, and 

 after that the inner ones, the pole chains or pole pieces being 

 subsequently tightened as may be necessary to bring the 

 horses near enough, but not too close, to the head of the 

 pole. When reins require to be shortened, the correct way 



no 



