CH. XIV HAND ON THE REINS 297 



to the mouth just as it does on the rein of a saddle 

 horse. 



Some coachmen are constantly changing the posi- 

 tion of the reins in the left hand, in the mistaken 

 belief that they are keeping the horses' mouths 

 light ; in reality, they are only worrying the horses. 



As to the wheel-reins, for example ; when they are 

 once evenly adjusted, the horses are going straight ; 

 if one or the other is lengthened the pair will go to 

 one side or the other, which is not desired, and ex- 

 actly the same is true of the leaders, as a pair. That 

 the lead-reins may require to be let out or taken 

 back is more likely, but even this need not often 

 happen on a level road. 



The more successful the coachman is in keeping 

 his reins unchanged in his left hand the better, 

 always remembering that this does not mean or 

 necessitate a dead pull upon his horses' mouths ; on 

 the contrary, he should constantly give and take his 

 whole hand, so as to prevent his horses from pulling. 



As a matter of fact, a man must be a very good 

 coachman and his team an even one, to keep the 

 reins unchanged in his left hand ; the reins will slip 

 more or less and require re-arrangement by the 

 right hand. Slight chancres of direction can be 

 readily made by the left hand alone (see page 311). 



The perfection of driving is to have the least 

 visible motion of hands or reins, and a cultivation 

 of this quiet way is strongly recommended to the 

 beginner ; it will worry his horses less, save him 



