HINTS TO BEGINNERS. 133 



without this you cannot explain to your groom what to alter 

 when alteration is necessary, as is frequently the case if you 

 are driving different horses in one set of harness. Study the 

 position of the bit in a horse's mouth, and the use and abuse 

 of the curb-chain. Before mounting the driving-seat see that 

 the harness is properly put on, and that the bit is neither too 

 high nor too low in the horse's mouth ; one inch above the 

 tusk in a horse and two inches above the corner teeth of a 

 mare, is about the correct place ; but these positions want vary- 

 ing in some cases. See also that the curb-chain is neither too 

 tight nor too loose; a very tight curb-chain will often make a 

 horse sore under the jaw, and so cause him to be irritable and 

 unpleasant to drive ; and a very slack curb-chain will not keep 

 the bit in a proper position in a horse's mouth, as it will allow 

 the bottom of the bit to point towards the driver instead of 

 towards the ground, and then the bit has no power. Observe 

 also that the traces are the proper length, that the horses are 

 not too near nor too far from the splinter-bar, and that the 

 pole-pieces or chains are the proper length ; also, when putting 

 to or taking horses out of a carriage, see that the pole-chain is 

 kept in the ring on the kidney links of the hames to prevent the 

 horse going back on the splinter-bar. Pole-chains should not 

 be too tight ; horses go much more comfortably to themselves 

 and to the coachman if they have a little liberty. If you take 

 off the traces yourself, remember to take off the inside trace 

 first, unless you wish to have your toes trodden on. When 

 driving pay particular attention to the traces, to see that 

 neither horse works more on one trace than the other. Some 

 horses do this, and require one trace a hole longer than the 

 other. Do not attempt to drive four horses until you can 

 drive a pair well. I do not by that mean a pair of well-put- 

 together and well-bitted free horses, but all sorts of pairs a 

 free horse with a lazy one, a pair of sluggish horses, a pair 

 of free horses ; and do not attempt to drive four horses until 

 you have learnt to alter the coupling-reins so as to get the free 

 and the lazy horse to do an equal share of work. 



