Riding and Driving

by Edward L. Anderson; Price Collier

As soon as horses go much together as four, they get to know the signals of the reins and sometimes respond too quickly. This is especially so of the wheel horses. As soon as they feel the lead-rein moving in their head terret, they begin to turn toward it. In going round corners this results in the wheelers going round too quickly, and perhaps running the coach on the curb or against a post or pillar. An easy way to avoid this is by making an "opposition point" so called. Before giving the office to your near leader, and making the point with your near lead-rein to turn to the left, take up the off-wheel rein and hold it over the forefinger of the left hand (Plate XXXII.), then make your point, and with one hand your leader is going round to the left, your wheelers are kept away from the corner, and you have your right hand to use on the reins, or with the whip to urge the wheelers round.

In turning to the right, the same thing may be done by taking the near wheeler's rein and passing it over the thumb of the left hand, then point to the right (Plate XXXII.), and again you have your whole team in one hand and doing your bidding. In turning a team off to the left, in order to pass another vehicle, or in any case where the turn is a slight one and to be made quickly, put the right hand on the two near reins with the middle finger between them, and as you draw them toward you let the left hand advance. Place the right hand on the two off reins with the fourth finger between them, and repeat the same manœuvre to go to the right. Put the right hand well in advance of the left in doing this, and pull directly toward you, otherwise you will pull the reins out of the left hand and spoil the whole movement by contradictory instructions to the horses' mouths. In pulling up to the left, you may place both near-reins well over the thumb, and then use the right hand as usual in stopping; this will bring your team over, and stop them at the same time (Plate XXXII.).

It is obvious that all these "oppositions" may be made by using the right hand on the reins. In most road driving this is done. There are from time to time turns to be made round sharp corners, into gateways, through narrow streets, coming down hill, or with a dip down hill immediately after turning a corner, when the right hand is imperatively needed. It is at such times that to know how to make these "points" and their "opposition" is very useful. The best way, therefore, is in times of peace to prepare for war by using these "points" and "oppositions" frequently where they can be made easily and without looking at the hands; then when you really need them you know how without fumbling and flurrying to do what is necessary.

When you wish to shorten your lead-reins, take them clean out of the left hand, bring them back the required length, and replace them. It is better and safer, however, so far as possible, to push these, and other reins when possible, back from behind. To shorten the wheel-reins, push them back one at a time—an awkward way—or pull them both through from behind. The near wheel-rein, being the most awkward rein to get at, should be shortened by pulling it from behind. To shorten any other of the three separately, take it in the lower fingers of the right hand and push it back the required distance. To shorten all the reins, put the right hand on all four reins, little and fourth fingers over both off reins, middle finger between, and forefinger and thumb over the near reins, and push them back a little at a time. As has been said before, if in a hurry pull all four reins back from behind.

As the two reins together, the off-lead and near-wheel, are the most troublesome to the beginner, it is well to remember that if your leaders are straggling to the left and your wheelers to the right, pushing these two centre reins back a little will put things straight. For the opposite trouble, pulling them forward a little will solve the problem. The leaders of a team are there to help over heavy roads and in going up hill; but as they have no pole to support them, their position is the more tiring one, and they should be cared for accordingly and not allowed to pull all the time. In crossing gutters or hollow places, be particularly careful to have your leaders in hand, otherwise if they are straining on the pole, the lift and jerk may break it. This is not an uncommon accident, and a very awkward one.

Remember that because you are driving four horses you have no peculiar rights and privileges over other American citizens, though they be driving only one horse or a donkey. The courtesy of the road will usually give the heavy load a chance, but you can only ask, you may not demand it. On a public coach, making time and carrying passengers for fare, the horn is both a safeguard and a proper signal; but the tooting of a horn on all occasions in park, village, and ordinary road driving is almost an impertinence. Cessante ratione, cessat et ipsa lex. If you must have a horn for protection, drive up and down your own back road until that necessity is passed.

In stopping, get ready in advance and slow down gradually. Get your leaders back a little, put your right hand on the reins as already described, lift the left hand, push the right toward you, and come to a stop with the horses as nearly as possible in their bits and collars ready to start again (Plate XXXII.). The man who can stop and start without a jerk is a good workman already.

Before getting down, put on your brake, always quietly, then shift the reins into the right hand with the whip, step down, put the reins into the tug-bearer as they were when you took them out, lay your whip across the backs of the horses, and your task is done.