302 POSITION OF HAND AND ARM CH. XIV 



right hand, will not be opposite to the centre of the 

 body, and will induce the coachman to lean forward. 



In fact, it may be said that the normal positions 

 of hand, arm, or body should be intermediate ones ; 

 that is, they should be such as will permit prompt 

 motion in any direction. 



During a long drive, for the purpose of resting 

 the arm, the hand may be permitted to go down 

 and forward as far as it will, for a time. 



Naturally, men of different mould and stature, 

 will adopt somewhat different positions of the arm, 

 but for the average man, the position just described 

 is the correct one, since it permits latitude of motion 

 in all directions and ensures the coachman's sitting 

 straight to the front, which is very important. 



The proper position for the hand and arm is 

 shown in the photograph facing this page, but it 

 is only the average position ; a variety of causes 

 may lead to a change of position. With a very 

 light team and on a short drive, especially where 

 appearance is important, the hand can be held 

 somewhat hi^h with the wrist rounded in. This 

 gives lightness and sufficient strength for the pur- 

 pose. With a pulling team, on a long drive, the 

 hand and arm must come down somewhat. One 

 extreme may be when showing a highly dressed 

 team in the exhibition rino- ■ all the horses will be 

 very light, going well up to their bits and not 

 pulling a pound apiece ; then a high hand, sensitive 

 to the slightest touch, is proper ; the coachman is 



