COACHING.   17

be necessary for them to employ a very competent head groom, who should be supplied with a smart hack or so, as a means of conveyance.

Directly horses are neglected they begin to run down, and when this happens, the running of a public coach ceases to be amusing. In a thirty-mile route there are five changes, with six horses and two men to each change ; any one with experience in such matters knows that these men need looking after.

Some coachmen think it a good plan to have the head man at each change go through to the next change with his team, riding inside the coach, the object being to hold one person responsible for the care of certain horses and harness, which it is impossible to do where the horses are shifted from man to man. Others object to this arrangement on account of the extra weight to be carried ; so the proper method to be pursued becomes a matter purely of individual opinion.

Now to discuss the laying out of the stages on a

day's run of thirty miles and return. On the basis of one horse to the mile and six horses to each team, we find we have five teams among which to distribute the work. It may do equally well to have the teams of five horses each, thus giving us six teams; but when this is done the same stamp of horse must be used throughout, to allow of shifting into either lead or