MOUNTING, POSITION ON THE BOX, ETC. 501 



The inside and outside traces of the leaders should be of 

 equal length and the ends of the inner traces lapped (one 

 trace end passed under and over the other trace before being 

 fastened to the lead-bar) or crossed (the trace of the off 

 leader fastened to the lead-bars of the near horse and vice 

 versa). When neither of these methods is employed it is cus- 

 tomary to fasten the inner ends of the lead-bars together^ 

 for which purpose a strap should be used and not a chain, 

 as the latter often prevents the bars from being readily sepa- 

 rated in case of accident. The lead-reins should be so made 

 that the buckles of the coupling-reins fall six or eight inches 

 in front of the leaders' tails. If they come farther back there 

 is great risk of their being caught in the terrets of the 

 wheeler's bridle. The reins are held in the same order as 

 for tandem. (See preceding page.) When servants are left 

 in charge of a four the head servant should stand at the 

 wheeler's head on the off side and the groom directly in front 

 of the leaders. The same order of putting in or taking out 

 the leaders of a four, when the driver is on the box, should 

 be observed as is described under paragraph on "tandem." 



MOUNTING, POSITION ON THE BOX, ETC. 



The coachman, before mounting the box, should first 

 stand on one side and then on the other of the horse or 

 horses and carefully note whether every part of the harness 

 is properly adjusted. The most important considerations 

 are : 



1. The proper length of the traces. 



2. The proper length of the breeching. 



3. The proper length of the crupper-strap. 



4. The proper length of the saddle-girth. 



5. The proper length of the tug- girth. 



