34« ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



waggons in time ; keep the middle of the road, and be 

 sure to keep time. Chains and springs on the bars are 

 good things for night work, as they prevent the leaders' 

 traces coming - off. 



COACH HORSES. 



The style of coach horse, both for gentleman's work 

 and on the road, is strangely altered since I first knew 

 what a coach horse was, and it is altered much for the 

 better. One part of the system, however, remains as it 

 was; and that is, although little horses, well bred, are now 

 the fashion, yet large horses still continue in heavy work, 

 and it must be so. Horses draw by their weight, and 

 not by the force of their muscles ; although doubtless well- 

 furnished muscles assist the application of that weight. 

 The hinder feet form the fulcrum of the lever by which 

 this weight acts against a load, and the power exerted is 

 always proportioned to the length of the lever — the 

 weight remaining the same. Large animals, therefore, 

 draw more than small ones, though they may have less 

 muscular power, and are unable to carry weight so well. 

 The force of muscles only tends to make a horse carry 

 forward his centre of gravity ; or, in plainer English, it 

 is the weight of the animal which produces the draught, 

 and the play and force of its muscles serve to continue it. 

 What chance would four little horses have before the 

 ' Old Salisbury ' coach with four ton of luggage about her ? 

 Muscular force -would not be able to oppose such a weight 

 for a continuance. 



