364 The Book of the Horse. 



This is one of the prime arts of the good coachman, and is referred to in the song in the 

 lines — 



" Here 's to the wagoner, skilled in the art 

 Of coupling the cattle together." 



In order that the buckles of the coupling-reins may be adjusted more easily, their length 

 has of late years been increased by about two feet, so as to bring them within not less than 

 six inches of the hands of the driver. This variation has another advantage : it enables 

 him to stop a pair of violent horses if they show any inclination to run away. By laying 

 hold of the two inside and dropping the outside reins, he will bring their heads and legs so 

 close together that they must almost inevitably stop or fall down. If a young or newly- 

 purchased horse insists on cantering in harness, put on, in addition to the pair-horse reins, a 

 pair of single-harness reins, as with these he can more easily be held down to the trot. 



A good driver looks all over his horses' harness before taking his seat, sees that the 

 curb and snaffle bits are properly adjusted in his horses' mouths, that the coupling-reins are 

 buckled at the right length, as well as the pole-pieces or chains ; if the latter are used, that 

 the hooks are placed downwards and not upwards, so as not to catch in the bits or collars; 

 then he deliberately takes his seat. 



In taking horses out of harness, begin by unloosing, but not unfastening, the pole-pieces ; 

 then unbuckle the coupling-reins ; then unloose the traces, rolling them up compactly to the 

 pads ; then unbuckle the pole-pieces, leading the horses clear away from the carriage, without 

 allowing any part of the harness to dangle about them. Two halters should be ready to 

 substitute for the harness bridles, which should be removed from their heads at once, and a 

 hand-block put to stop the carriage-wheels from moving while unharnessing is going on. 



Where the services of two or more grooms are available, the successive stages of harnessing 

 and unharnessing may be performed almost simultaneously ; but the occasions are frequent 

 when the owner has to harness or unharness his own horses, with or without the assistance of 

 some perfectly-ignorant yokel or street arab ; and it is therefore important to know the due 

 order for each successive operation. 



Where bearing-reins are used, they should not be drawn over the pad hooks until the 

 horses stand in their places beside the pole, and they should be unhooked before they are 

 led away, after unharnessing. 



TANDEM HARNESS. 



Tandem, once the most fashionable style of driving, is very little seen now in great 

 towns. A few years ago there was a tandem club amongst the officers quartered at Woolwich. 

 In Australia it is much in vogue, probably because the roads are bad, and a traveller has an 

 extra horse for use at a pinch. The tandem is one plan for keeping a riding-horse — the 

 leader — in condition in the sunmier. 



The latest improvement in tandem harness consists in the adaptation of three bars fastened 

 to the shafts, which often prevent a leader from stepping over his traces. The tandem leader 

 must have the natural courage that will keep him always up to the bit and in the collar ; he 

 must have no " shy " about him. 



The tandem driver's safety and comfort depend entirely on the steadiness and power of 

 his wheeler. 



