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DRIVING FOR PLEASURE.
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Tandem carts or gigs are made with straight or very slightly bent shafts, which should hang nearly level when harnessed, although a trifling inclination towards the tail is admissible. A cart should never hang "by the head."
It will readily be seen by these suggestions that the height of the cart is a very considerable factor in the selection of the wheeler. The arrangement and buckling of the tugs is a most important point, for on this the ease of motion of the cart depends in a very great measure. When the shafts are level and the buckles dropped or raised to suit this condition, the tug bellyband is buckled loosely ; it should have plenty of freedom to allow of an upward and downward play of the shafts when the cart is driven over an uneven surface. The practice of buckling it tight has made many a novice decide that he does not care to have his digestion upset by the jolting of a tandem cart, whereas, if the cart is well balanced and properly harnessed, it is a most delightful vehicle to drive.
A harness which is thoroughly tandem is shown in Plate XXXIV, but there has been a tendency of late
years to introduce the park refinements by lining, double leather, etc., so that style also must be in a measure considered. The livery of the groom is shown in Plates XXXVII, XXXVIII, and XL ; but for
