1 88 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



invariably the effect of a bad mouth or uneven temper. 

 Nothing, however is more distressing to a coachman than 

 either of these bad qualities. His attention is always on 

 the rack, for, if left alone the coach would be off the road 

 in an instant. It also prevents his coach running straight, 

 thereby causing his horses to work at angles, and conse- 

 quently to lose part of their power. When a horse once 

 takes to ' hang ' in this way, he never leaves it off ; and 

 to prevent his tiring his driver's arm, a check rein is 

 generally had recourse to. It goes from the check of his 

 bit to the ring on the names of his partner — or, what is 

 better, it should run through this ring and fasten to the 

 buckle of his inside trace. This gives more play to the 

 rein, and prevents the horse's mouth getting dead, which 

 it is apt to do in the other case. It is astonishing what 

 weight some horses will hang on this rein, which their 

 partner must find the benefit of. Some danger, how- 

 ever, is always attached to a side rein, for if you want to 

 turn your off leader suddenly to the off side, and his 

 head is closely confined to the near leader of course your 

 intention is defeated, unless your near leader will turn 

 also ; and accidents have often been the consequence. 



When I speak of putting horses together, I do not 

 exactly confine myself to the effect of traces and coupling 

 reins — but to putting each horse into that place where 

 his powers will be most effective. Coach horses on 

 the road are not like gentlemen's horses : they are a 

 medley of all sorts and sizes — consequently there may 

 be two strong and two weak horses in the team. If so 

 they should be crossed, so as not to have the strong 



