374 The Book of the Horse. 



liberties with the hand the muscles of the hand and arms to be instantly braced, and then 

 relaxed : this relaxing of the muscles forming, in horsey language, the drop of the hand. 



"By closing and opening the hand the horse is kept collected and lively; if more col- 

 lection is required the whip will be necessary. 



" In fine driving for ladies, and with thoroughly well-broken horses, the off rein may be 

 between the third and fourth finger of the right hand, instead of in the full of the hand, 

 thus admitting of an easier change of hands and shortening of reins." 



STARTING. 



Having walked round to see that the harness is properly adjusted — nothing omitted, 

 nothing too tight or too loose — the driver should, after taking his seat, begin by pulling 

 his horses together, stopping them, as it were. Harness-horses, however high-couraged, should 

 be taught to stand until the driver is quite ready, and to start at some familiar word, such 

 as "Come nozv!" or "Go along noiv, pretty hoys !" and not until it is given, and constantly 

 stimulated to go up to the bit by the voice, instead of relying on that essential instrument 

 the too-much-abused whip. 



The horses must be always kept up to the bit, and the reins must always be held so 

 that the driver can feel his horses' mouths, and at such a length, with the hand or hands in 

 such a position, that they can be pulled up at any moment without any apparent exertion. 

 A driver should be able to shorten his reins and stop a pair of well-bitted, well-broken horses 

 with a turn of his wrist. But, at any rate, his right hand should be laid so handy to the 

 left that he can place it two inches before it. 



Accustom your horses to start slowly. When fairly under weigh, if driving a distance, 

 choose a pace that suits the slower of the pair, and keep to it for any reasonable distance, 

 taking advantage of the nature of the road, to save and ease them by averaging the miles 

 per hour — making play over level and down moderate declivities, going slowly up hill — and 

 only allowing them to walk if the road is very rough, in very hot weather, or up very steep 

 hills. 



In passing other vehicles, and rounding corners, always take plenty of room ; leaving 

 "shaving to half an inch" to Hansom cabmen, van-drivers, and coachmen of accoucheur 

 physicians. 



In driving in town and in a crowd, horses must be kept on their haunches as well as 

 up to the bit, so as to stop or turn instantaneously ; and the driver before pulling up must 

 look well ahead, so as to select a clear space. In a mob of carriages, sluggish are even 

 more dangerous than fiery horses ; but nervous horses, however beautiful and well-broken, 

 are quite unfit for the use of ladies or timid drivers. To look well in town a pair of horses 

 must step in time, like soldiers; style being more important than pace. "To step and go 

 together " is perfection. 



Ladies have much more need of a driving tutor than gentlemen. They must bear in 

 mind that many family coachmen — safe, steady men — are ignorant of the first principles of 

 their business. 



In going down-hill with a pair of horses, the pace should be regulated by the steepness. 

 The drag should not be put on unnecessarily : that is to say, only where the carriage would 

 without it be likely to run on to the horse's hind-quarters. If it is necessary to go fast, 

 the horses should, as it were, run alongside the pole with slack traces. If the carriage is 



