390 The Book of the Horse. 



steeds at full pace, if he had not been previously instructed in the customs of the country. 

 The late Hon. Frederick St. John, who was a first-rate four-in-hand coachman in the first 

 quarter of this century, the most palmy days of that coaching age, relates, in his recollections 

 of Continental adventures, the following anecdote : — " One day I accompanied the prince in 

 his drosky to make a call. He drove h la mode du pays — three horses abreast — a very fast 

 Orloff trotter in the shafts, with two outriggers called furieiix; the near side horse galloping 

 with his right leg foremost and his head inclining to the left, the ofY side in the contrary 

 manner. On my friend entering the house he placed the bunch of reins in my hand. I was 

 puzzled, but arranged them as well as I could and started the trap. As long as I was in 

 the village they went very quietly, but when I thought I knew all about it, and encouraged 

 them to a better pace, they started at score. The more I pulled the faster they went, and 

 soon reached the open plain. Well, I thought, Russia is large and there is plenty of room. 

 I managed to make them describe a circle, and, sitting astride on the centre bench of the 

 drosky, kept my seat while the carriage cleared various little watercourses. Finally, I was 

 able to turn their heads towards the village, and meeting my friend, he used some Russian 

 word, and the horses stopped. After he had had his laugh out, he showed me tiiat with 

 fiery Russian horses you must hold half the reins in each hand, and to stop them easily 

 pull with the two fists close together ; whereas I had pulled with my hands quite apart. But 

 more is to be done with these horses by the voice than any other means." > 



CANTERING IN HARNESS. 

 When one of a pair of horses insists on cantering in harness — a most annoying trick 

 — the best plan is to buckle an additional rein to the inside of the bit, and pass it through 

 the terrets to your hand. Thus you have the same power over your canterer as if he 

 were in single harness, and can pull at him without worrying the other horse. 



