HINTS TO BEGINNERS. 129 



of him, you can hit the leader in question under the bars by 

 throwing your thong at full length straight out to the right, and 

 bringing it back, with a sharpish jerk, under the off-leader's bar, 

 just in front of the end of the pole. The near- wheeler will 

 know nothing of the evolution you have performed, neither 

 will the two off-side horses, nor probably any of your pas- 

 sengers. For example, the writer was driving, a couple of years 

 ago, 'The Old Times' coach. It was on the galloping stage 

 from Chertsey to Virginia Water. The box-seat had been 

 relating all down the road several feats he had performed, and 

 presenting himself as an experienced coachman. His anec- 

 dotes were almost credited until, after it had been necessary, 

 for reasons above explained, to hit the near-leader under 

 the bars several times, occasion to wake up the off-leader 

 arose, when the learned box-seat exclaimed : ' By Jove ! you 

 have hit the right horse at last.' 



When your whip is not in use, which with a well-broken 

 team it very seldom will be, always carry it in your hand about 

 the top ferrule, your thumb pointing slightly upwards, at the 

 same time holding secure the point of the thong, which should 

 lap round the stick three or four times, not more, about a 

 couple of inches below the top of it, and should be held, your 

 right hand just above your left, at an angle of about forty-five 

 degrees, pointing out a little to the front. This position will 

 keep the thong from dropping down and irritating the near- 

 wheeler, and at the same time not interfere with the nose of 

 your box-seat passenger. 



If a leader gets his tail over the rein, don't pull at him on 

 any account. Let his rein run out a foot or more, touch him 

 up lightly (under the bar of course); he will swish his tail, the 

 rein will be free, and you are safe. Many horses will go on 

 without kicking for miles with the rein under their tails, and in 

 a road-coach, where horses know their way and time must be 

 kept, it does not much matter ; but if you come to any obstacle 

 you may not be able to steer them, while in a -private team 

 anyivhere it would be dangerous. The release of the rein must 



