DRIVING 105 



escape to the stable. Later I learned to help 

 in the process, and in the course of doing so I 

 acquired some useful information, such as that 

 a horse should draw in single harness by the 

 traces and not by the shafts ; that in the case 

 of a pair the inside traces should be half a hole 

 shorter than the outside ; that it is a mistake to 

 pole horses up too tight for a long journey ; 

 that a pair of horses require the coupling reins 

 frequently shortened or lengthened, horses 

 seldom going exactly in the same form two 

 days alike ; that on rough country roads the 

 couplings should be longer, as horses' heads 

 require more freedom on them than on Lon- 

 don pavement ; again, some horses require 

 bitting differently on different days. I had a 

 pair once of which the near horse would go at 

 the cheek quite pleasantly for some days, and 

 then would need to be put in the middle bar in 

 order to make him work properly and easily. 

 At all events, when the horse or horses are 

 properly put to, the journey is half over and 

 the difficulty of driving half surmounted. 



When the carriage comes to the door the 

 reins should be taken in the right hand before 

 mounting the box or driving seat. In no case 

 should a driver mount the box without the 

 reins in his hands. When seated the reins 

 should be held in the left hand ; the near rein 



