I92 LENGTH OF TRACE CH. X 



require to be set in motion again. With very long 

 traces this objectionable stoppage may take place, 

 which is no doubt the foundation for the wide-spread 

 belief in the advantage of putting a horse close 

 to his work. Undoubtedly, on smooth roads the 

 horses may be harnessed as close to the coach as 

 will permit them to trot fast without the danger of 

 being touched by the splinter-bar or of striking 

 the wheels with their feet ; this means tight pole- 

 chains to prevent the horses from getting back too 

 far. But on uneven roads, with holes and ruts, such 

 close harnessing will strain the horses by subjecting 

 them to violent shocks from the irregular motion of 

 the coach. The custom, therefore, in rough coun- 

 tries, such as Western America, Africa, and Aus- 

 tralia, is to have a long pole and to harness the 

 horses loosely by long traces and long pole-chains, 

 so that while the coach cannot touch them, they are 

 less affected by the movements of the coach and of 

 each other. In park driving on smooth roads, with 

 light loads, low speeds, and well-trained horses, both 

 traces and pole-chains may be short ; but it is a 

 common fault with coachmen to have them too short 

 even under these circumstances and to distress their 

 horses unnecessarily. For higher speeds, especially 

 galloping, and on less good roads, more flexibility is 

 required and more length should be given. A short- 

 harnessed team looks 'smarter,' takes up less room, 

 and is more easily handled than a long one, and, 

 where circumstances permit, it is proper ; but judge- 



