ON HARNESSING. 189 



horses on one side, and the weak ones on the other ; as, 

 in that case, one side of the coach will want support, and 

 she will not run steady. With respect to whether 

 wheelers or leaders should be the most powerful, there 

 are two opinions amongst the fraternity. It must in 

 great measure depend on the roads — for if hilly, you will 

 want the strength at wheel. On one mechanical prin- 

 ciple it is also in favour of the wheeler, his power being 

 more effective through being near to his work. If, however, 

 you should have two large, and two small horses, whose 

 tempers will not admit of your crossing them, I have no 

 hesitation in saying you should put the smaller ones at 

 wheel, and larger ones before the bars, otherwise your 

 leaders, being lower than your wheelers, would be draw- 

 ing, as it were, downwards, which is quite at variance 

 with the principle of traction ; which, if ever it varies 

 from the straight line, should have the advantage of the 

 up-lifting power. We have most of us seen (if, in our 

 younger days, we have not done it ourselves) a postboy 

 or an ostler in an inn yard, put his back to the splinter- 

 bar of a carriage to move it. He invariably has recourse 

 to the up-lifting power — for he does not draw straight, 

 nor downwards, but heaves up the splinter- bar when he 

 applies his strength to it. 



In harnessing horses, we should apply the power 

 where it is most wanting. The traces of coach horses 

 should be as short as possible — they cannot be too near 

 to their work. Those of the wheeler should just admit 

 of his hinder leg clearing the wheel, and those of the 

 leaders not more than sufficient to clear their tails of the 



