POLING-UP AND BREECHINGS. 207 



I was treated last summer with a show-off of what horses 

 could do in this way, when in the hands of ' an artist ; ' 

 but the twisting of the pole seemed almost more than 

 the best ash timber could bear, and the prospect was 

 by no means agreeable. It is also surprising to see what 

 a load some horses will hold back without breechings ; 

 but this cannot be done without their having a distres- 

 sing weight on their backs, and consequently, on their 

 fore legs, as all the stress of holding back lies in the tug- 

 straps, which come from the pads to the tugs of the 

 collar. In this case a false martingal is of great use : 

 it passes from the belly band, between the fore legs, to 

 a link of the throat hasp in the names, and, by that 

 means, prevents the collar from getting forward on the 

 neck, when the horse hangs back at his pole-chain. 

 These difficulties, however, are obviated by breechings, 

 which are, certainly, much in favour of horses' legs. 

 When I come to my intended observations on coaches 

 descending hills, I may have something more to say on 

 this subject ; but I shall dismiss it for the present, and 

 proceed to another contested point among our ' prime 

 ministers ' — and that is, whether it is better to drive four 

 horses with short or long wheel-reins. 



It may be scarcely necessary to remark, that the 

 difference between the short and long wheel-rein is this. 

 With the former, the rein terminates in the coachman's 

 hand ; and with the latter, it runs though it, in the same 

 manner as that of the leaders'. Driving- with the long 

 wheel-rein is chiefly confined to London coachmen, and 

 a few swells in the country ; for, taking England through- 



