FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



necessity of it, Loopings, as with four may be 

 used, and the practice is excellent. The whip is 

 not merely an ornament, but an instrument in- 

 tended to play its important part in the guidance 

 of the quadruped, and its manipulation should 

 be carefully studied. 



Driving a well-mated and coupled pair is as 

 easy as driving one, and the whole secret consists 

 in so " putting them together " that they mu- 

 tually assist, and do not obstruct each other at 

 their work. Bits, harness, couplings, traces, pole- 

 pieces must all be rightly fitted and arranged ; 

 the horses must be comfortable to make the 

 driver at ease. Just as one hand is more sym- 

 pathetic with the single horse, so are two hands 

 with a pair, and most pairs are virtually so driven, 

 the right hand being always near the left, ready 

 for use, and frequently in use. As much good 

 practice may be gained by driving at a walk as at 

 a trot, and it is no easy matter to keep a pair 

 properly in their places at this gait. Judgment 

 of distance is an essential to be developed by 

 practising at driving between pegs, and nothing 

 looks worse than to see a driver craning his neck, 

 and taking his horses back to a slow pace to pass 

 a vehicle, or enter a gate where practice should 



228 



