CH. XIX TRYING THE HORSES 449 



being led to their places, and sometimes cause a 

 difficulty. They must be laid on under the reins. 



It is a good plan to have in each stable a diagram 

 showing the coupling and bitting of the team, such 

 as is described in Chapter XII. (Plate XXVI.). 



Ten days or two weeks will be required to try 

 the horses and the road thoroughly, and just before 

 the opening day the whole road should be driven 

 over at least twice, keeping the time and making 

 the changes exactly as they are to be made in 

 future. 



It is usual on the opening day to have a party of 

 invited guests, generally persons interested in coach- 

 ing, and on this occasion everything should be done 

 in the most careful manner and with scrupulous 

 attention to punctuality. 



Coachman's and Guard's Duties. — The profes- 

 sional coachman of a public-coach drives the coach 

 from its stable to the office from which it starts and 

 takes it back from the office to the stable, at the 

 end of the day. He has charge of the horses, and 

 should frequently go over the road to be sure that 

 they are properly cared for and to arrange any 

 transfers of horses from one statre to another, which 

 may be necessary. He examines and pays the 

 accounts for wages, feed, and shoeing. If he rarely 

 drives the coach he has plenty of time for all these 



duties ; but if he is called on to occupy the cushion 



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