FIG. 34.—TANDEM WITHOUT BARS.
CHAPTER X
TANDEM DRIVING.
|Principles of tandem driving.| The fundamental principles of tandem driving are very naturally almost the same as those of driving a coach. But the chief difference between the two styles arises from the fact that both horses in a tandem turn much more quickly and with far less pressure on the reins, more especially the leader, than the pair of horses, either wheel or lead, in a coach. Furthermore, the tendency to wobble about the road is much greater, necessitating a much more frequent use of the right hand; so that it really requires greater quickness and lighter hands to drive a tandem than a coach. |Great nicety and quickness required.| On the other hand, a tandem can turn on its own ground and everything is in front of the driver, whereas a coach requires a large space to turn in, and often a good allowance has to be made for the hind wheels.
|Advantages of tandem.| One of the greatest recommendations of a tandem is that it is well within the reach of many who cannot afford a team. The small extra expense and trouble which the leader entails are fully compensated for by the extra enjoyment which everyone feels when driving behind a perfect and well-appointed tandem.
|Idea of tandem being dangerous is erroneous.| It is quite a mistake to suppose that a tandem is necessarily a very dangerous turn-out to sit behind. It is nothing of the sort, if driven by an experienced coachman and the horses are fairly trained.
Of course horses that have never been driven in single harness cannot be safe in a tandem. |Almost any horse will go in tandem.| But almost every horse that will go in single harness, and some that will not, will make perfectly safe leaders with very little teaching. It must be thoroughly understood that there is an immense difference between the terms a perfectly safe leader and a perfect leader. A horse may be a perfectly quiet animal, which will not kick, nor do anything that will get one into difficulties or danger, but yet be a terrible slug. This would altogether prevent one driving him rapidly through traffic; therefore, though a perfectly safe animal, he is not a perfect |Frequent use of right hand necessary.| leader. As mentioned above, it is necessary to use the right hand very frequently when driving a tandem, in order to immediately check every tendency the leader may have to |Follow leader if he turns suddenly.| cross the road or to turn round a corner. But if by any chance the leader has got well on the turn before you are able to check him, do not then try and do so, but apply the principle of “Follow my leader” at once. Follow after him, and when the horses are straight turn round and come back again. Do just the same if you are standing still, and the leader suddenly comes right round. Whilst turning the wheeler, back him if possible, so as to give the leader plenty of room. By this means you will never get the leader tied in an inextricable knot.
If it is not possible to follow the leader round, hit him on the side of the head with the whip, which will probably induce him to get back into his place.
|Position of left hand and method of holding reins.| The left hand should be held in the same position as when driving four horses, and the reins held in precisely the same way, but as these matters have been thoroughly discussed in a previous chapter it is unnecessary to go into them again here.
|Position of right hand when on reins.| The right hand ought to be placed on the reins in front of the left, with the little and third fingers together over the two off-side reins, the middle finger over the near-wheel, and the first finger over the near-lead (fig. 35); all the reins will then be under the immediate control of the right hand.