Hints on Driving

by C. Morley Knight

A few cheek leathers.

|False collars.| False collars, which can either be made of leather or numnah, often come in very handy. The advantage of the latter material over the former consists in its being softer, and in the event of a gall a piece can easily be cut out; but, on the other hand, it requires a more roomy collar.

|Alter bits when team pulling.| If the team are pulling too hard, stop them occasionally and alter the bits. Lowering these in the horses’ mouths often has a wonderful effect. You can also tighten the curb-chains, or put the reins lower down on the bits. Do not pull at your horses more than you can help, but directly you feel that they are getting the best of you stop at once, and if possible give them up to another driver. |Pace should suit the slowest horse.| If three of the team can go ten miles an hour, and the fourth horse only eight, keep the three back to the slow one, for you cannot make him go up to the others without galloping. When, however, you are on a road coach, it is better to let the slow horse gallop than to lose time.

|Galloping.| Galloping should not be attempted by the novice, for until he has learnt to take a good steady hold of the horses’ heads it is really very dangerous, not only on account of the rapid pace, but because the coach will almost certainly be set rocking in a very uncomfortable manner, and may eventually be upset. |How to prevent coach rocking.| When a coach is found to be rocking, give the leaders a little more rein, so that their traces may place a more constant strain on the pole, which will then be steadied. Then take hold of the horses’ heads and slow down gradually.

|Horse’s likes and dislikes.| If possible try and find out what a horse likes and dislikes so as to avoid irritating him. The sound of the horn annoys many horses terribly, and makes them pull. Sometimes this can be got over by constantly blowing the horn in the stable. Some hate the sound of the whip, so try and use it very quietly. Others dislike the sound of heavy carts rattling past them, and are in that case best placed on the near side.

|Judging pace.| To become a really good judge of pace is most difficult, but it is very important, and can only be learned by constant and steady practice.

|Team wobbling.| To drive neatly the horses must above all things be kept going straight along the road, with the wheelers exactly behind the leaders. Always save your cattle as much as possible, and to this end never let them wobble across the road. In some teams this tendency to wobble is great, and must be checked at once. This can only be done by continually watching them. |Coach wobbling, apply grease.| One great cause of the coach wobbling is the fore-carriage moving stiffly, owing to grit or mud having found its way in between the plates—a state of affairs which can easily be remedied by a plentiful application of grease.

|Steering team like steering a ship.| Any such movement should be anticipated in the same manner that a good helmsman anticipates the swing of his ship, with a slight motion of the rudder, as by so doing he is never obliged to put his helm hard over. The unaccustomed hand always waits too long, till the ship has already swung, and then is obliged to use a great deal of helm—the result being that he makes his course into a series of zigzags.

In the same way a very slight pressure applied on the reins at the right time will keep the horses going perfectly straight and true, without any pulling or jerking.