14 DRIVING. 



Very often in driving, especially about the narrow streets of 

 towns, it is not a bad plan, supposing you are turning to the 

 left, to shorten the off-wheel rein in front, just under your 

 thumb, in the same way, almost at the same moment that you 

 are shortening your near rein, to turn round the corner. Be 

 very sure that the assistance given by the right hand is only 

 momentary, and that it is free to use the whip when you are 

 turning the corner. The shortening of the off- wheel rein is 

 to prevent the wheel-horses from turning too sharp round the 

 corner, and knocking the coach on the post or stone that will 

 probably be found at the edge of the pavement ; because 

 wheel-horses that have been much driven get very cunning, 

 and they feel the office given to the leaders by the rein which 

 runs alongside of their heads. Of course the same rule applies 

 when turning to the right, only then the near-wheel rein must 

 be shortened. 



We have already cautioned the beginner against indulging in 

 the gallop, but it will sometimes happen unavoidably, if a coach- 

 man has gone a little fast off the top of a pitch, that when the 

 horses get near to the bottom, or are absolutely at the bottom, 

 they will break into a gallop. On such occasions, unless the 

 coachman understands how to keep his horses steady, it will very 

 often be found that the coach is set rocking, which is a danger 

 that might end in a swing over. The natural impulse of a 

 coachman who feels the vehicle thus swaying is to check his 

 horses and try to pull them all up, but to do this is only to 

 increase the danger. The safest plan of avoiding an accident 

 when such a thing occurs is rather to increase the pace, and 

 especially to give a little more rein to the leaders, who will then 

 catch hold of the pole, and, pulling the coach straight, will 

 steady it; and then is the time to get fast hold of all four 

 horses and gradually pull them into a trot. 



The intending coachman, when he is in the country, should 

 walk about with a four-in-hand whip until he has made him? 

 self quite at home in the art of catching the thong. Many 

 men who can drive very fairly are hampered by a want of 



