HOLDING REINS. 235- 



four horses that have their work to learn, and need a <^ood deal 

 of steering and restraining. With a four-horse team it is easy 

 and safe to put in one horse at a time that is new to the work, 

 bat a collection of four lively horses, unused to the excitement of 

 galloping together, must be a dangerous team in any hands, and 

 one which there can rarely be any necessity to undertake. 



560. — In driving four horses the leaders' reins may be taken 

 with all the lingers of the left hand between them, just as directed 

 for the reins of a single horse (530). Those of the wheelers, or 

 hind horses, must be held in the same hand, but with only two 

 fingers between them instead of four. The fore finger will thus 

 separate the two right hand reins, and the little finger 

 the two left hand reins, whilst the two middle fingers of 

 the left hand form a wide and distinct separation between the 

 right and left hand reins of both leaders and wheelers. By this 

 arrangement a twist of the left hand will turn all the four horses 

 to either side, affecting the leaders first and most as it should do. 

 The regular order and complete separation of all the reins will 

 enable the right hand to soon learn without a moment's thought 

 to seize either rein, or either pair of reins that may be required,, 

 for a turn or any other manipulation, and to drop them again 

 without disturbing their hold, length, or position in the left hand. 

 The right or whip hand can also easily be placed at any time over 

 the left hand, to assist at a pull, or to rest the muscles of the 

 left arm. In fact with hard pulling horses this will be its general 

 position except when required to use the whip. 



561. — Many more complicated methods of holding the reins 

 have been described and recommended, but this simple winding 

 of the leaders' reins round all the fingers of the left hand, and of 

 the wheelers reins round the two middle fingers only, is at once 

 the simplest, strongest, and best, and is adopted by mountain 

 drivers, and by men of the most severe practical experience in 

 various parts of the world. With four horses the hands may be 

 held a little further forward than with two, as it gives more play 

 and strength for a pull, but the body must be kept upright, and 

 the elbows near the hips. 



562. — At straightforward running you will want to interfere 



