In going up hill, it is in general best to trot up at first, and
to walk afterwards. In going down hill, it is best to keep the
wheelers tight in hand, to let the leaders just clear the bars, and
to come gently down. In the latter case, a turn of the reins of the
wheel-horses may be made round the little finger. (Plate XLIV. fig. 4.)
Although, however, it may be necessary to catch up wheel-horses,
and make them hold back their coach down hill, there is nothing in
which a light finger is more essential to safety. The manner in which
some persons haul at horses’ mouths, when descending with a load,
considerably adds to the difficulty, by trying the strength of the
tackle. But this is not all: these persons should be aware that all
this force employed on their horses’ mouths is so much added to the
pressure of the coach; in proportion to it is that pressure increased.
The horses are then drawing by their heads!
The objections to a locked wheel, with a top-heavy load, have already
been stated. If, however, with a heavy load, and upon a smooth hard
road, a wheel must be locked, it should be that next a ditch, or other
dangerous part. In going down hill, a coach always strikes on the side
on which the wheel is not locked. The coachman should therefore keep as
much as possible on that side of the road on which the wheel is locked:
by crossing the road, if he meet or have to pass any thing, the coach
will not strike; and by holding that way, at any time, it will prevent
overturning. The coach naturally strikes in a direct line from the
perch-bolt.
The generality of passengers know not the danger of galloping a coach,
with three tons’ weight in and out, down hill, at the rate of twelve or
fifteen miles an hour, with no wheel locked, the whole resistance of
the wheel-horses depending on a small leather strap and buckle at the
top of the hames,--these coachmen deeming it beneath their dignity to
drive with breechings. Even thus, however, accidents would be much less
frequent if coachmen took the precaution of pulling up their horses
short, when on the point of descending. In night-work, this is doubly
useful, because it often happens that a pole-chain is unhooked, or a
hame-strap gets loose, without being discernible by lamp or moonlight.
[Illustration: _Plate XLIV_
_Page 208._