THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



fault many coachmen have. They foroet the o-reat additional 

 weight they are throwing upon them, as they are then dra wing- 

 by their heads. When a young horse is first put to a coach, 

 he should be very carefully turned to the pole, so as to prevent 

 its touching his hind quarter, which might cause him to kick. 

 When he has been driven long enough to make him steady, he 

 should be taken up in his bearing-rein, and put lower on his 

 bit, and driven in a wide circle, or figure of eight — keeping 

 the inner horse well up to his collar and bit. In his breaking- 

 he sliould be frequently stopped, and not held after he is pulled 

 up, as, if he is high-mettled, it will make him restless, and, if 

 dull, he will not require it. Great care sliould be taken, at 

 starting, to make the old horse begin first, if the young one be 

 inclined to be hot, as it will prevent him from plunging. If 

 he is dull, and not ready to start when the word of command 

 is o-iven, he should feel the whip till he answers it. If inclined 

 to kick, he should be taken up very short in his pole-piece, 

 and his bearing-rein tightened ; a stroke of the whip over the 

 ears is also useful — a kind of punishment that, in my opinion, 

 should never be inflicted hut for vice. It is a brutal practice, 

 and one which I never had recourse to myself, except in the 

 case of a kicker. Young horses should have their heads a 

 good dea] at liberty. Throat-latching a young horse, either 

 wheeler or leader, shows great want of judgment. Some will 

 o-o more quietly as leaders than at wheel, the reason for which 

 I conceive to be, their not liking to And themselves confined 

 by the pole-piece. All young horses should have their sides 

 frequently changed.' 



Hargrave. — ' Thank you kindly, Jack, for your good and 

 practical advice. I will only trouble you to decide a dispute 

 lately in my presence, as to what description of road is easier 

 of draught ? ' 



Jack We})her. — ' I can settle that point for you on the 

 authority of a very scientific man, and you will be surprised 

 at the result. The draught of a liorse in harness is thus 

 calculated. On good pavement — 33 lb. ; on broken stone 

 surface — 65 lb. ; on broken stone, hard bound — 45 lb. ; on 

 loose gravel — 147 lb. ! This accounts for the London mail, 

 and also that which runs to Manchester from Chester, having 

 only three horses for the first twenty or thirty miles, the road 

 being paved. As coachmen sa}^ when describing the vis vivicla 



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