The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-08-07
VOLUME 3.
Hints on the Use Of Draft Horses.

y
bend his heud down when he desires to
do so, ,lbe sure that he is not properly
harnesscd.''
Whenever a horse is employed for the
purpose Of drawing any vehicle, it is of
the utmost importance that he should be
able to employ all his strength to advan
tage. Every one who considers at all,
must acknowledge that if horse has to
do his work in cramped or confined con-
dition, or when he is ineonveniently
placed as regards the load he cannot
exert his full power, which is so much
loss to his master; or, if forced to per-
form a certain amount, that he is obliged
10 waste great deal more of his strength
Cor muscular power) than is required,
to his own great pain and injury.
The question how to properly attach
the horse to the vehicle is, therefore, one
.cf the greatest Importance to every mas
ter who wishes to get proper degree of
work in a fair aud rational manner Yet,
from being unacquainted with the
principles, few examine closely into the
practice; an immense deal of horse.
strength is wasted every day on loads
which, if properly attached. might have
been comfortably moved with far less
'troubie, exertion and pain.
The act of pulling is performed by
lleauing forward, with the weight of the
body against the resistance of the oppos-
ing Grec, and then, by strong move
ments of the limbs, keeping up and
increasing the pressure; the weight of
The body being of serc sst,nost Importance,
as any one may try 10y talling at a rope
passing over orc sAoalaer, and standing
upright all tssc tirc twill be found
that, what WIS before pulled with ease
eannot now DC moved at all, or, at any
rate, only by the most scscrc and con-
&inued efforts of the limbs, These IN uscu-
iar movements, cxhnaAiug the strength,
try thc system violently, whereas the
laody7wcisht Is easily employed without
conAuniiig the vital energies
k's Froaa tho upright position of mans
body, he is not fitted to draw loads. 1t,
therefore, this great differeacc is per-
ceivablc with his light frame, how great
nast be the waste of strength when the
horse is prevented from throwing his
whole weight fairly into the collury Yet
this is constantly the case through var.
ious causes
First, and, unfortunately, in too many
cases, the cullnr is quite unfit for the
animal. A horse collar is, we are sorry
to say, frequently looked Upon merely as
q ring for the neck, To which the traces
are to be affixed; whereas there is no
part of the harness which is SO impor-
tant and which ought to fit accurately.
How often is little collar, only fit for
a pony, jammed on the neck of much
larger animal, so that every pull he
makes gives the feeling of strangulation,
and that will, in all probability, cause
some kind of fit, if long continued, be-
sides its liability to gall and wiring the
poor animals shoulder. When this has
taken place, the work cannot be fairly
performed; aud to do it all. the anguish
of the poor horse must be indesoribable.
.s Secondly, the horse is often prevented
from throwing his weight into the collar
by check rein useless and painful
iucunibrance, introduced by vanity and
retained by thoughtlessness amounting
to cruelty. Ask horsekeepers why they
use it, a,d hardly any one will give the
sasae answer although it is generally
supposed by them to be great safeguard
IN case of stumbling. The real object
with which it WAS introduced, was to
make every horse TO which it was applied,
however weak or old or poor, assume
the lofty earriage of the thoroughbred
horre; and the tossing of the head, the
foam of the mouth, aud the restless
agitation Of the body (mute, but ex-
pressive signs of pain and sufferng) come,
in little while, net only to be disregard
ed, but even looked at with appreciation
Fortunately this yitiated taste is rapidly
going out of fashion as better informa-
tion is difused. Few Of the London
cab drivers use check -reins, knowing
them to be inconsistentwith proper work;
and when pne is observed it will invar-
iably be fpHnd to be on some poor ami