CH. XXIII ACCIDENTS 509 



Anything which distracts the horse's attention 

 from the idea which he has in his head, may be suc- 

 cessful, — for instance, lifting his foot and hammering- 

 on the hoof as if shoeing him. Violence of any kind 

 usually makes matters worse. 



A pulling horse may be made more manageable 

 by passing his coupling-rein under the throat-latch 

 of his partner before buckling it to the bit. This 

 is called throat-latching, frequently pronounced 

 ' throat-lashing-.' 



In old coaching days, wild or troublesome horses 

 were sometimes 'moped,' that is, a leather screen 

 or shade was fastened to the bridle and covered the 

 eyes, so that the horse could see only downward ; 

 ' moping a leader' was an expression frequently used. 



Horses must never be left unattended ; no matter 

 how quiet they may be, something may frighten 

 them and disastrous results ensue. 



During fog, or falling snow, it is frequently difficult 

 to see the road or what is ahead, and at nieht the 

 light of the lamps shining on the fog is bewildering. 

 This may be somewhat obviated by partially covering 

 the lamps so that the light may shine down on the 

 road, but not too much ahead. 



In driving tired horses, the work must be so 

 distributed as to favor a weak horse ; under some 

 circumstances the leaders should be kept as fresh 

 as possible, since, as a coaching writer tersely puts 

 it, ' a tired wheeler may be dragged home, but if a 

 leader cuts it, you're planted.' 



