144 DRIVING AS I FOUND IT. 



was a fair goer, but had no harness action, but after 

 being ridden a few times, made a splendid back. Now, 

 here was a young horse )»eing sacrificed, and spoiling his 

 companions, from being put into his wrong place. So 

 much for judgment, or rather the want of it. Judgment 

 in horses certainly is not possessed by one man in a hun- 

 dred who keeps and uses them, and yet scarcely one man 

 in that hundred will allow or believe he does not possess 

 it. , 



To those who like coaching and intend taking a trip, 

 I strongly recommend them before attempting to start 

 out, to get some one well qualified to judge the right 

 sort of horse most suitable for the work, and what is 

 more important, to see that the team work well together 

 and are properly put to, so that each horse has the proper 

 length of trace, pole chains, and the reins adjusted so 

 that when the team is at work each horse will do his 

 even share and no more. There is, moreover, a good 

 deal of judgment required on the part of the driver when 

 on the road. Some men will drive ten miles a day more 

 than another and keep their teams fresher and in better 

 condition. Travelling over rough, hilh^ roads makes the 

 work for the wheelers harder than when diivdng along a 

 smooth road. On going down inclines the leaders 

 ought to be kept back to give them a chance to rest 

 themselves. The wheelers, if the brake is on and hoUs 



