Green’s Dictionary of Slang

in pl., reins, esp. in the phr. handle the ribbons.

1813		Sporting Mag. XLI 129: Their adroitness in the use of the ribbons [...] excited universal admiration .
1821		Egan Life in London in Bk of Sports (1832) 7: Without hesitation he mounted the box, stuck to his leaders, handled the ribbons, and picked up [...] a ‘good living’.
1832		Egan Bk of Sports 5: He handled the ribbons with as much ease and confidence as Paganini when playing one of his favourite solos on the violin.
1841		D. Boucicault London Assurance Act V: ’Pon my life, he’s actually going to assume the ribbons.
1845		‘A Week in Oxford’ in Bell’s Life in Sydney 25 Oct. 4/3: For this desired end, a note was dispatched by my friend, and another by S—, of Merton, who were to handle the ribbons.
1845		J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 234: I’m ready to take the ribands.
1851		Life in Boston & N.Y. (Boston, MA) 4 Jan. n.p.: Young Lewis [...] is the owner, and plays the ribbons bravely.
1852		F.E. Smedley Lewis Arundel 143: It ain’t the first time as you’ve handled the ribbons by a good many, I should say, sir.
1859		G.F. Atkinson Curry & Rice (3 edn) n.p.: The Jehu [...] clambers on his perch, handles his ribbons as he would a bunch of carrots; flourishes his long-lashed whip [...] until he breaks into a canter.
1865		‘The Overland Stage Driver’ in Lingenfelter et al. Songs of the Amer. West (1968) 56: Could he but hold the ribbons and obtain a chance to drive.
1869		Man about Town 18 Sept. 11/2: We say, such and such a man handles the ‘ribbons’ well; of W. G. G., he can handle the ‘willow’.
1876		H.E. Malet Annals of the Road 52: Some young men, heirs of large landed proprietors, mounted the box, handled the ribbons, and bowled along the high road.
1873		Sl. Dict. 269: Ribbons the reins. ‘To handle the ribbons,’ to drive.
1880		Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Aug. 3/4: One of the prettiest turn-outs in town is that of the A.D.C.— a four-wheeled dog-cart and apair of spanking roan ponies—the ribbons being well handled by young ‘Gus’.
1882		G.A. Sala in Living London (1883) June 208: Our whip (and genial host) ‘handled the ribbons’ (that must be correct) in the most approved and ‘down the road’ style.
1890		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer II 49: Aymer Brandon held the ribbons.
1899		‘Pot’ & ‘Swears’ Scarlet City 171: That was Sir Percy Spalding’s [carriage] and he was holdin’ the ribbons.
1901		Truth (Sydney) 3 Feb. 8/3: Strike me pink, I neer drops ded / As I gathers up the ribbons, / When I hears the words she sed.
1909		Gem 23 Jan. 6: Let me take the ribbons.
1910		O. Johnson Varmint 13: I’ll cuddle up here [...] just to look over the way you handle the ribbons.
1917		Van Loan ‘Egyptian Corn’ Old Man Curry 241: The mare [...] Them ribbons don’t keep her f’um rockin’; she’s all through.
1947		W.D. Overholser Buckaroo’s Code (1948) 99: Brown handling the ribbons.