22 G ONE HORSE. 



533. — No person can be a really accomplished driver, who 

 does not know a good deal about the natural disposition of a 

 horse — why he obeys and when he will be liable to disobey ; how 

 to educate him, and how to take advantage of that education. 

 All that we have said about the education of the horse (165 to 

 443), and especially about breaking to harness (379 to 443), 

 should be read and understood by those who aspire to educate 

 as well as to drive, to foresee and provide against danger, and to 

 rule in a storm as well as a calm, ^Ve shall not repeat here 

 what we have treated so fully in the educational chapters. 



534. — Let us first suppose that there is only one horse to be 

 driven. You must, of course, understand hoAv your horse should 

 be harnessed, and see before you take your seat, that he is 

 securely and comfortably fastened to his work. Pay particular 

 attention to your horse's bit, and if it is a curb bit, see that the 

 curb chain is not too tight, and that you have not too much 

 leverage on the horse's jaw. If you are a novice at driving 

 you hud l)etter avoid curb bits and chains, and if you have 

 complied with our directions in educating a horse to drive 

 yourself, he will not require such severe restraints. If the horse's 

 mouth is decidedly hard, you had better use a ring bit. 



535. — Take the reins in hand before you put your foot on 

 the stej), but do so without interfering in any way with the 

 horse's mouth. If the horse is a free, nervous animal, hold him 

 very lightly, and speak soothingly to encourage him to stand for 

 a few seconds after you are seated, ^nd then let him walk quietly 

 on, without a touch or a tick, and walk a hundred yards before 

 you let him go at a slow trot, and gradually increase it until he 

 arrives at the pace you intend to travel. The more free an'd nervous 

 your horse, the more careful you must be never to start him off 

 in a hurry, or you will spoil him for standing, and very likely for 

 starting. 



536. — See that there is no twist in the leather of either rein, 

 and as you hold them straight in your right hand put all the 

 fingers of your left hand between the reins. Bend the right 

 hand rein, at the fore finger, and the left hand rein at your little 

 finger, letting them pass over each other inside your fingers, and 



