T^he Stable Handbook 



crupper may be too tight. This latter is a common 

 cause of restiveness in horses, and many a jibber 

 has been started on his evil courses by a crupper 

 too tight for him. The bit should be in the right 

 place in his mouth, not too loose so that he can 

 get his tongue over it, nor so tight that it wrinkles 

 the corner of his mouth. The collar must fit 

 accurately ; too loose a collar rubs, too tight a 

 collar chokes a horse. A close yet easy fit is 

 what we aim at, just in fact what we desire for 

 ourselves in our boots and breeches. If there is 

 an error it should be on the side of ease. I have 

 not space or time to write a treatise on driving, 

 and indeed the Badminton volume on Driving tells 

 us so much, that a careful study of a book so 

 accessible gives all that can be learned by reading. 

 I am here indicating the things which are too 

 often neglected. I may perhaps claim too a 

 greater practical knowledge of tandem-driving than 

 most men, for I used a tandem in the ordinary 

 course of my work on the Indian frontier, driving 

 considerably over a looo miles per annum for 

 three years. What is a pastime to many was for 

 a time work to me, though I am bound to say that 

 duty and inclination went together. On rough 

 and hilly roads and for long distances a tandem is 

 most useful, and distinctly more amusing to drive 

 than one horse or even a pair. But I am consider- 

 ing now not only its pleasantness but its economy. 

 Any two ponies will do provided they will go 



52 



