324 STOPPING CH. XIV 



must be prevented by holding the edges of the 

 reins more tightly in the bend of the third and 

 fourth fingers (see p. 300). 



When a team pulls so hard as to be nearly 

 unmanageable, it usually happens that these two 

 centre reins slip, and the leaders get far over to 

 the left. For this, the remedy, for the moment, is 

 to take these two reins in front with the right hand, 

 and pull the team up by them, which will, at least, 

 have the result of getting the horses straight and 

 of keeping them in the road. 



With new reins, this slipping is a frequent trouble. 



Stopping ; Pulling-Up. — In stopping straight, — 

 that is, not inclining to the right nor to the left, 

 — it is only necessary to put the right hand on all 

 the reins, with the third finger between the near 

 and off pairs of reins, and to pull slowly with 

 both hands, raising'- the left higher than the right 

 (Fig. 146). 



The right hand must be put far enough forward 

 to enable it to be brought back the distance neces- 

 sary to stop the team without disturbing the posi- 

 tion of the body, but it should not be advanced so 

 far, as to require the body to lean forward to make 

 the motion. Above all, in pulling-up, the coach- 

 man should never lean backward, but he may 

 straighten his legs ; all the pull should be taken 

 without moving the body, and by raising the left 

 hand and lowering the right. If this cannot be 



