io6 RIDING, DRIVING AND KINDRED SPORTS 



over the top of the first finger, the ofT between 

 the second and third fingers. The whip should 

 be in the right hand and should, as a rule, be 

 carried in the hand, not in the socket. The 

 whip bears an important part in the art of 

 driving, not indeed as an instrument of punish- 

 ment, but rather as a means of conveying our 

 wishes to the horse. The start should be 

 by gently tightening the reins in the hand 

 and whistling quietly to him at the same 

 moment ; or if a pair, by laying the whip gently 

 on the less willing of the two, so that both may 

 go up into their collars together. Is it neces- 

 sary to add that the driver should not give way 

 to the abominable new fashion of saying " Pull 

 ep ! " ? Start quietly, never going off with a 

 rush or permitting the horses to do so. It will 

 be time enough to let them step along when 

 you and they have settled down. Never take 

 the off rein out of the left hand, but use the 

 riorht hand as an aid, not as a re^Tular instru- 

 ment, in driving. If the left hand is held in 

 the right position, with the knuckles towards 

 the splashboard, and a gentle, even pull is kept 

 on the horses' mouths, a turn of the wTist will 

 suffice to guide your horses and leave your 

 right hand free to use the whip to keep your 

 inside horse off the curb if he tries to 

 turn too sharply. To take a pull, put your 



