FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



full of reins " at the last moment, and he will 

 not improbably regret that he has not at liberty 

 three pairs (of hands), a set of feet, and a mouth- 

 ful of teeth to keep him out of trouble and steer 

 him away from the impending curbstone and 

 lamp post. 



Holding the reins over four horses and escap- 

 ing calamity by the aid of good luck is not 

 driving four-in-hand, by a long way, however 

 much your instructor and your vanity may strive 

 to persuade to the contrary ; nor is handling 

 always the same steady, quiet team likely to ad- 

 vance you very far, as the first " raw *' lot you 

 chance to take hold of will prove. There is 

 nothing to be said for and much to be argued 

 against the keeping of a regular team. Horses, if 

 they suit each other and are properly " put to," 

 will go as well the first time they ever see each 

 other as they will afterward ; and constant change 

 affords incessant practice. A real coachman can 

 get along with anything, and however queer, 

 they " all look alike to " him. As proper " put- 

 ting to" is a matter of practice for each individ- 

 ual combination of horses and driver, we may 

 pass over that part of it, only pausing to remark 

 that all teams, once started, should be given time 



214 



