ROAD MANAGEMENT. 447 



What I have thought it advisable to say, myself, or to com- 

 pile from the works of others in relation to riding, has been 

 given under the heads of Breaking, of Baucher's Horseman- 

 ship, &c., and will, I believe, be found to contain all that is 

 needed on the subject. In regard, however, to driving, nothing 

 similar can be written or taught ; and though I might tell a man 

 how to hold his reins, on which side to mount his driving seat, 

 and on which hand to take his place, all would be to no effect ; 

 and it may be said in a few words, that there is no way of learn- 

 ing to become an excellent driver, except by sitting, often, 

 alongside of a first-rate whip, listening to his instructions, and 

 watching his manipulation of both whip and ribbons for many a 

 day before attempting to assume either, and, when that is done, 

 by working patiently under his instructions, until such time as 

 he shall pronounce his pupil capable to go alone. 



In no other pursuit is it so necessary for one to learn how to 

 stand, before he can go, and to go before he can run, as it is in 

 driving. 



With regard, however, to management on the road, some 

 advice may be given, which will be advantageous to all novices, 

 and to many of those, even, who consider themselves horsemen, 

 and whips of no common standing. 



It is so common, that no person who has seen much of trav- 

 elling on roads, either in the saddle or in vehicles, can fail to 

 observe it, that one man will get his hackney, his wagon-horse, 

 or his team, over his ground, to any given distance, at a rapid 

 rate of travelling, say ten or twelve miles an hour, without dis- 

 tressing him, or them, at all ; while another, at an inferior pace, 

 will have his animals worn out before half the distance is ac- 

 complished. 



This arises from several causes ; the possession by the one 

 of judgment of pace, judgment of ground, quick perception of 

 the manner of his horse's or his team's working, sufficient skill 

 in driving his horses to avoid worrying them, and, if he be 

 using two, or four, to make all work evenly and alike ; keeping 

 the slow and lazy animal well up to his collar, and the willing, 

 eager animal, hard on his bit ; add to this, the knowledge how 

 to nurse, comfort and care for a horse on the road, and we have 

 all that is necessary to constitute a good horse-master. 



