NOTES ON TANDEM AND FOUR-IN-HAND DRIVING. 555 



vent these buckles from catching in the wheelers' terrets. The 

 crupper should be sewed, not buckled to the crupper straps 

 of the leaders, and the point of the loop which passes through 

 the D in leaders' pad, should not extend beyond the last 

 keeper. Wherever it is practicable the possibility of the lead 

 reins becoming entangled should be eliminated. 



NOTES ON TANDEM AND FOUR-IN-HAND DRIVING. 



BY FREDERIC ASHENDEN. 



AFTER thirty-five years' experience in coaching both in 

 this country and in England, I venture to submit the follow- 

 ing information and advice to novices in four-in-hand driving, 

 which I trust will be of use to them. 



First of all, I must state that I do not agree with some 

 authorities on driving that tandem is easier than four-in- 

 hand, except for the difference in the weight of reins and 

 four horses' heads (a team that carry their heads properly 

 should require no checks, unless for a park team, where 

 appointments count) instead of two, and also unless the 

 leader is perfect, or the tandem a thoroughly schooled' one. 

 A tandem leader a perfect one is quite the hardest 

 kind of harness horse to find, the world over. 



In tandem the leader can almost do anything he chooses, 

 turn round and look at you, nearly get into the cart, or get 

 tangled up with a passing vehicle ; whereas with a four-in- 

 hand, if a leader shies or is frightened in any way, his mate 

 will help to keep him straight, because two horses hardly 

 ever shy at the same object simultaneously. 



