CH. XIV OPPOSITION 319 



With handy horses this is a neat way of working, 

 but any method which keeps these two reins abso- 

 lutely together has the disadvantage of giving too 

 much opposition in proportion to the amount of 

 point. 



After this description of these various methods, 

 it may be repeated, that, in turning to the right the 

 two reins which are between the first and second 

 fingers, — namely, the off lead and the near wheel, 

 — should be looped in that space together, by one 

 motion of the right hand. In turning- to the left, the 

 near lead must be pointed first and the off wheel 

 afterward, each in its proper place, and in both 

 cases the opposition is quickly and simply effected. 

 This is only when an opposition is required ; in 

 easy turns, as out of one wide road into another, 

 with no vehicles in the way, a point of the lead-rein 

 is all that is required, and if sufficient point is taken, 

 steadying * the team with the left hand will keep the 

 wheelers in their places. If, however, the turn is 

 into a narrow gateway, especially to the right, the 

 coach will be close to the corner or to the gate-post, 

 and the wheelers, unless properly controlled, will 

 be almost certain to turn too short, especially if it 

 is a turn with which they are familiar. 



Generally the most difficult place to enter grace- 

 fully is one's own gateway. 



* Steadying a team is an accepted coaching expression for holding 

 the horses back somewhat. 



