138 RIDING, DRIVING AND KINDRED SPORTS 



Then as to shortening the reins. I am 

 well aware that the orthodox plan is to 

 push the reins back from the front with the 

 right hand, but it is nevertheless convenient 

 sometimes to pull them back from behind the 

 left hand with the rioht. There seems to me 

 no possible reason why this should not be done 

 on occasion. Again, if you are driving the 

 same team for a long distance, when your 

 hand gets tired and perhaps the wheelers are 

 leaning a bit on your arm, it seems to me quite 

 permissible to bring the right hand in front of 

 the left and take the reins, and then, putting 

 the left in front of the right, to draw the left 

 back, thus shortening the reins without dis- 

 turbing the horses' mouths. As to the position 

 of the hand, if you are sitting well and easily 

 on the driving seat with enough bend in your 

 knees to get power by straightening your legs 

 and pressing your feet down, it matters little 

 whether the hand is held higher or lower. 

 When a team is going smoothly and, as it 

 were, driving themselves, as they will do, it is 

 a rest to put the hand down and let them go 

 easily ; but if while they are fresh the hand is 

 slightly raised on a level with the top button 

 of your trousers, it will give a lighter and more 

 sympathetic touch on the mouths of the horses. 

 Of course it is not necessary to point out that 



