To drive slowly, is much more gentlemanlike, and, at the same time, more
difficult than going fast. Keep your horses well together; to do this
properly, you must know how to arrange their couplings. I think I cannot
better explain this, than to ask my readers to notice the working of the
horses. If you see one a little in front of the other, you may judge
that he is either stronger or more free, consequently his coupling
requires shortening, or that of the other horse lengthening. To shorten
it, you must bring the buckle towards you; and to let it out, put the
buckle towards the horse's head. Most inexperienced persons resort to
the whip, not knowing what is the cause of the fault they wish to
remedy; this will make the strong or free horse, throw himself more into
his collar; the other, meanwhile, cannot get up to him, however much he
may try; the result is, he becomes more and more disheartened. If you
use the whip at all, it must be very lightly and quietly, so that the
freer or stronger horse may not hear it. At the same time, hold them
both well together; if he is not a sluggard, he will gradually work up
to the other. Again, if you notice one horse carrying his head
unpleasantly, you may judge there is some cause for it; perhaps he is
curbed too tightly, or his coupling is too short, or his rein ought to
be over that of the other horse instead of under it, for, as may be
supposed, all horses do not carry their heads alike; but all these
little matters require watching and studying, and, with practice, they
will all become familiar enough; and you will notice whether or not, all
your horses go pleasantly together, for, depend on it, the more
pleasantly they go, the more pleasure and comfort you will experience in
driving them; and, as the old coaching term expressed it, when you can
"cover them over with a sheet," you may conclude they are going about
right.