504 ACCIDENTS CH. XXIII 



be taken off the roller-bolt, or unbuckled ; there is 

 no excuse for cutting a trace. On no account must 

 the pole-chain be unhooked first ; that permits the 

 horse to get back on the splinter-bar and will make 

 him kick. 



A leader may kick and catch his leg between the 

 main-bar and the single-bars if they are connected 

 by a link or chain, — a dangerous arrangement which 

 cannot be too strongly condemned. 



The breaking of any part of the harness, such 

 as that of the hame-strap of a wheeler, when going 

 down-hill, or of a rein under any circumstances, is 

 a serious matter. 



The breaking of a trace has usually no bad 

 result beyond that of delay, which need not be long 

 if a chain or extra trace is carried in the coach. 



The breaking of a pole may occasion a serious 

 accident if the coach is going" down-hill ; should it 

 happen, if the brake is not sufficient to hold the 

 coach, it is sometimes possible to keep the horses 

 going, out of the way of the coach ; but if the pole 

 is broken absolutely in two, so that the front part 

 trails on the ground, an accident is almost unavoid- 

 able. The soft side of the road may be sought, to 

 aid in stopping the wheels, care being taken not to 

 get into a gutter, which may turn the coach over. 

 A turn across the road, or up a slope, is also a 

 remedy ; but while this is possible with a pair and 

 with a vehicle which turns under, it is usually, for 

 want of space, impossible with a coach. 



