268 COUPLING CH. XII 



nothing- can be more dangerous than a damaged 

 rein. 



In a coach team, the wheelers should be coupled 

 far enough apart to enable them to travel parallel 

 to the pole and not to be pulled in with their heads 

 too near together, but since they are kept in a some- 

 what fixed position by the pole-chains, care must 

 be taken that their coupling-reins are short enough 

 to make the bits bear evenly on both sides of their 

 mouths ; it is quite possible for the coupling-reins to 

 be so long that the strain will be almost entirely 

 on the draught-reins. This will not happen with 

 the leaders, because not being held together ex- 

 cept by the reins, they will spread as wide apart as 

 the reins permit. 



Leaders should have their couplings short and be 

 brought somewhat close together, in which position 

 they look much better and work just as well ; at the 

 same time, they should not be driven with their 

 heads almost touching, as is sometimes seen. If 

 their coupling-reins are long and the horses move 

 close up against each other, the inside reins, be- 

 coming thereby slack, will not command them 

 quickly in case of necessity. On bad roads, in hot 

 weather, or for slow, heavy work up-hill, they should 

 be further apart. 



Although what may be called the geometrical 

 principles of the coupling-reins, as shown in the 

 diagram, are simple enough, a great deal of ex- 

 perience and judgement is required to adjust them 



