338 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



favour be shown, it must be to the leaders. You may 

 drag a tired wheeler home ; but if a leader cuts it, you 

 are planted. Always put your free'st leader near side, as 

 you will have him better in hand than if he were on the 

 other. If a leader is weak, and cannot take his bar, tie 

 up the wheeler that follows him, and he will place him 

 by the side of his partner. Leaders should be fast 

 trotters for fast coaches. When they are galloping the 

 bars are never at rest, consequently much of the draught 

 is lost in the angles they describe. 



Wind is almost as essential to a coach horse in fast work 

 as to a hunter. Many high blowers, however, keep their 

 time very well, with a little watching and nursing. If 

 you see them distressed, keep them off their collar, and 

 let them only carry their harness for a hundred yards 

 or so, and they will recover if their condition is good. 

 They work best as night horses ; but if driven in the 

 heat of the sun, they ought to work out of the throat lash. 

 Indeed, I would never throat lash a leader in very 

 hot weather if I could drive him without doing so. 

 Many horses will pull and be unpleasant in the throat 

 lash, but go temperately out of it. Some persons will 

 tell you that a coach horse cannot carry his head too 

 high, provided he is obedient to the hand, and I am of 

 this opinion. At all events a horse that goes with his 

 head dozvn has a mean appearance in harness. The 

 horse trnt carries his head higher than his partner should 

 have his coupling rein uppermost of the two. 



Temper in harness horses is much to be regarded. 

 Some coachmen will armje that a horse should never 



