7 8 DRIVING. 



only carry passengers and no luggage to speak of, even if there 

 is any at all, we should prefer for all sorts of roads short- 

 stepping and small, though thick, horses. They are infinitely 

 pleasanter to drive. Anybody who has had the experience 

 of taking off a big, lolloping team of rather under-bred horses 

 who are very tired, and have been hanging on the coachman's 

 hands for the last two or three miles of the stage, will under- 

 stand what a pleasure and a relief it is to feel the quick, sharp 

 trot of a little team of fresh horses. 



We think, from our experience of the modern road coaches, 

 and from what we see of the gentlemen's teams driving about 

 London and the country, that so far we shall be in agreement 

 with most of our readers. Difference of opinion exists as to 

 the respective heights of wheelers and leading horses. Some 

 like them exactly the same size, others prefer a big wheel-horse 

 and a little leader ; others again like a thick, low wheel-horse, 

 and rather a taller and slighter leader. In our opinion, this 

 latter is the perfection of a team. It looks better when they 

 are coming to you, as well as when you are sitting on the 

 coach. We do not think, however, it really signifies either one 

 way or the other. We have driven teams of horses of all sorts, 

 and shapes, and sizes, and we have found them to go equally 

 well, whether the leaders were the same size, or larger, or 

 smaller than the other horses. It is a matter of 'taking the 

 eye,' and for appearance we prefer the small, thick wheeler, 

 and the tall, light leader. 



The gentleman who wants to set up a team, having got his 

 coach, and his harness, his coach-house, his harness-room, and 

 his stable beautifully done up, looking as smart as French 

 polish and bright brass can make it look, has now to proceed 

 to buy himself a team of horses. We must take for granted 

 that gentlemen who want to set up a coach and horses, even if 

 they are beginners, will have some knowledge of the animal 

 horse, and therefore will not find it necessary to wade through 

 these pages to learn where to find one. But there are gentle- 

 men who, having had too much to occupy them in their youth, 



