|Shortening lead reins.| The leader’s reins can be shortened either by taking out both the lead reins with the right hand (fig. 32), the near lead under the first or second finger, the off lead under the little finger, and then replacing them in the left hand, or else by pushing them through from the front with the right hand in front of the left, the latter being usually far the best plan.
|Leader doing too much work.| While on this subject, it may be well to remark that the novice is usually inclined to allow the leader to do a great deal too much work. The traces should never be quite taut except when going up a hill, and then the leader may be allowed to do his best. The result of allowing the leader to do all the work on the flat is that the wheeler soon learns to hang back, and thus makes his companion pull him along as well as the cart, and when this happens it is almost impossible to |Turning while going up hill.| negotiate a sharp turn safely. From this it is evident that, when going up a hill with the leader well in draught, he must be taken out of the collar before a turn is attempted, otherwise the wheeler will be forced to cut the corner.
From this chapter it will be seen, that although the general principles of driving a tandem are the same as those of driving four horses, yet there are many minor points of difference, which the man, who wishes to drive both with equal skill, must carefully study and practise.
One very notable difference, which may be pointed out again, is the greater lightness and quickness of handling necessary to guide a tandem with ease and safety through difficult places.
Tandem is therefore admirably adapted for ladies who are fond of driving, as it affords all the interest of a team, without placing any undue strain on their strength or powers of endurance, while it enables them to exercise those qualities of quickness and lightness of hands, in which as a rule they surpass men.
The whole art of driving is composed of innumerable small, though most important details, but probably no other class of driving requires so much attention to be paid to these minutiæ as Tandem.
FIG. 38.—TANDEM WITH BARS.