ON DRIVING 



CHAPTER III. 



ON DRIVING, FOR A NOVICE AND AMATEUR. 



FOR one of the former, if my readers will permit, I will go 

 with him the first time and give minute as well as general 

 instructions. The horse is ready before your door; groom 

 holding him, not by bit or rein, but with three fingers in 

 the side piece, just above the bit, so that no pressure from 

 his hand is on the bit. This is applicable to harness as 

 well as saddle, and I may say particularly so for the latter, 

 inasmuch as if with bit and bridoon or plain curb, his 

 hand is sure to be on the curb ; a dangerous position if the 

 horse starts a heavy hand may cause a rear, and thereby 

 unnerve the coming horseman and injure the horse. I 

 will just say to my young friend, Do not imagine you can 

 drive because your neighbor can, or that it is to be done 

 properly without care, judgment, and practice. Now we 

 are seated, you having the reins, place them thus: one 

 between thumb and forefinger, the other between the third 

 and the forefinger, hand half turned up; hold them just 

 tight enough to feel his mouth lightly, and speak to him to 

 start, at the same time raise your hand a little. Your horse, 

 if an experienced one, and you should drive no other to 

 begin, knows that you are unaccustomed to drive as well 

 as you do; try to undeceive him in that. Don't be afraid 

 of looking green by taking a rein in each hand occasion- 

 ally; as soon as he feels you changing your reins, with a 

 light touch, and then putting them back in one hand again, 

 taking the whip in the other, and letting him know you 

 have it by a gentle reminder, he will begin to mind his 



