The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-18
HANDLING THE RIBBONS.
DRIVING AN ART, THOUGH MANY
DO IT CLUMsILY.
Glen Cairn Tells of Amateurs Who
Ruin Their Horses, and of Others
Who Are Adept Reinsmen-" Run
nine, a Horses Legs Off"

NEW York, May five were sitting
by the window of cozy little room that
looks out on the track at Fleetwood park,
when the conversation turned on gentlemen
or amateur drivers. My companion was
Willard Saunders, the young man who had
taken the sensational Guy when artists like
Splan and others had pronounced his tenn
per so bad that he would never make a
trotter and made him the most talked-of
horse of the year. Mr.. Saunders holds the
best record for four-in-hand and tandem
driving, and is ranked among the most
accomplished reinsmen in the land.
We had been chatting of the great per-
formances of Guy and other kings of the
turf.
"What do you think of our amateur
driversP' asked.
The trainer looked thoughtfully away
over the green field that separated us from
the track, and paused before be made
answer.
''There are some of them," he replied,
shat think great deal OF, and others
that could not say as much tor; but will
assert that the amateur drivers In New
York and vicinity are the best reinsmen in
the world. There are some men, however,
who should never be allowed to own a
horse, for they have no sense. A great
many rich men go and buy horses and don't
know the first thing about them, and the
natural consequence is that, although they
may have the best intentions, they lD-use
their horse so grossly that he becomes pre-
maturely broken down. They may drive
him TO excess and, not knowing now TO take
care of him afterwards, leave 1t to Ignorant
or law grooms, who don't care what be-
comes of the animal.
"But want to tell you about peculiar
thing l have often noticed. | have seen
amateur drivers who would buy horse
and day after day bang him along till one
would think he must be made Of iron to
stand it; yet that horse would keep on i'm
proving. Why this is don't know, but
nearly every driver in the profession will
tell YOU he has met cases of this kind in his
own experience.
''On the other hand. we have many anna
tours whom ] consider as fine drivers as
there are in the land. Take Mr.. Rockefeller
for instance. Now, | myself have learned
a great deal from him, and L think he can
develop aud improve horse as thoroughly
as any man ever saw.
''How does he do it? you say. Well, he
does it because he thinks intelllgently. Now,
if he wants to speed mis- horses at the track
ne logs Ln6Iu OuU S1OWly, opCOdo OhCAh Us
mucn as he wishes, and then, instead of
tying them up under the shed, he let's them
amble quietly home and by the time they
get there they are cooled out nicely and in
good condition.
ut is a great mistake for gentlemen to
drive out to the track, speed their horses
and let let them stand under the shed after
perhaps giving them drink OF cold water
''Never put cold water into hotstomach.
If you must give your horse drink while
he is warm let him have some water that
has been standing in the sun and that is
tepid; but if you give it to him cold out of
the pumps you stiffen him and make him
sore all over. Above all, don't work your
horse to excess If you find be is doing
well leave well alone, and don't go trotting
him OFF his legs.
si"By handling horse in this way saw
the gentleman l have mentioned develop
and drive the mare Jessie i'll 2:l915, without
track work of any account.
"There are many other good gentlemen
drivers, amongst whom l might mention
Ally Bonner and Mr.. Work.
"When you drive horse you mustn't
think that you can sit bolt upright in your
road wagon and do, him justice. Some mems
backs are bent the wrong way to drive a
horse. You must adapt your hand to your
horses mouth, and you can't do this with
your back as stiff as ramrod.
Don't hurt the horses mouth. Try and
imagine that your arms are elastic, and let
them give-and-take, as it were with the
reins, SO that you do not irritate, the horse
by the constant strain of hard pulling
against him.
''If he should happen to break with you
don't saw at his mouth; just take him back
gently, and if lie does not catch himself,
which he generally will in few jumps,
just nip him on one side or the other, de-
pending on which side he catches, for, as
you know, all horses do not catch on the
same side.
81 think that the majority of gentlemen
drivers mean we'll by their horses AT the
same time they unwittingly neglect them.
Take their feet for example, (the most i'm
portant point in the driving horsel. Cen
tlemen drivers generally leave their horses
feet to their groom or blacksmith, and
never give them the slightest personal atten-
ton.
'If you get a nice set of shoes, that just
suit your horse, have them duplicated SO
that next time you want him shod you
know he will have just what suits him.
Above all, don't let any black
smith pare your horses feet
down TOO much. A horses foot should be
handled with reference to the growth OF
it and according to his size and weight.
think the convex shoes arc the best to use
for gentlemen's road driving, for they will
not pick up stones or throw much dirt II
you only handle your horses carefully, you
can drive them good deal on the road and
not injure them; but you must give them
some of your personal attention. Now as to
handling your reins," sGid MIR. Saunders
''of course that depends altogether on the
kind of horse You are driving, and it is
unnecessary for me to say anything about
tho matter when you use both hands, as
most road drivers nowadays have hand
holds on their reius, and it is only a simple
question of slipping your hands into them
But when one speaks OF driving with one
hand it alters the question materially aud
requires some thought
"A great many people drive with the
reins passed through their fingers. 1t seems
to be the most natural way for one to take
hold of his reins. / can not say, however
that think it is the best, for the simple rea
son that it gives one little or no leverage by
which to control or guide your horse
81 have found the best method is to cross
your reins through the palm of your hand
letting the rein which comes between your
first finger and thumb pass over the thumb
In this way by simply turning your wrist
you can guide and control your horse very
easily. Remember, however, to always
have your right hand free in case of acci.
dent.
"Be sure to get your horse bitted properly,
You must get bit that your horse likes
Some horses will almost pull your arms out
with severe bit, but will give no trouble
at all if you put leather or rubber bit il