CH. XXIV MEETS OF COACHES 519 



and turned into a position which will allow the horses 

 to be put-to ; it is well to drill the men in doing this, 

 so that the coach can be brought into position with- 

 out any awkward failures. 



Starting off from a race-course requires much 

 judgement, and few things show more clearly the 

 good or bad coachman. The horses after standing, 

 are often somewhat fractious and impatient ; other 

 coaches about them are just getting of, and unless 

 the coachman does the proper thing he is likely to 

 o-et into trouble. He must be certain before he 

 starts that he has his reins exactly right and that 

 all his horses tighten their traces together, for, on 

 the soft ground, it usually takes all four to pull the 

 coach. If they make a false start without moving 

 the coach, they will be likely to balk or run back, 

 and then a good start is almost impossible. 



Everything should be done in the most quiet 

 manner ; the brake must be taken off without any 

 noise, the man at the leaders' heads must draw 

 the horses gently forward without exciting or jerk- 

 ing them, in order to tighten their traces, keeping 

 his eye steadily on the coachman so as to obey any 

 signal promptly. If all this is properly done, the 

 team will get into motion smoothly and quickly, and 

 they should be permitted to go straight on, to give 

 them no chance to rebel. If it is not properly done, 

 one leader will be on his hind le^s and the other 

 turning his croup out sideways, while a wheeler will 

 be hanging back with his collar half-way up to his ears. 



