The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-08-07
OF. = 3.
hints ON the Use Of Draft Horses.

bend his head down when he desires to
do 80, lbe .snre that he is not properly
harBesscd."
Whenever 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 che load he cannot
exert his full power, which is SO much
loss to his master; or, if forced to per-
form d certain amount, that he is obliged
folwaste a 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
tho horse to the vehicle is, therefore, one
of the greatest importance te every mas
ter who wishes to get proper degree of
work in fair aud rational manner Yet,
from being unaequainted 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
'trouble, exertion and pain.
A.
The act of pulling is performed by
leaning forward, with the weight of the
body against the resistance of the oppos-
ing force, and thcu, by strong move
snents of the limbs, keeping up and
Increasing the pressure; the weight of
she body being of ssre at,uost importance,
as any one may try by fsslling at rope
passing over oHc saoalaer, and standing
upright all the timc. it will DC found
that, what WIS before faiicd with ease
sa,nnot now dc moved at all, or, at any
rate, only by the most sescec aud con-
tinucd efforts of the limbs. These ,nuscu-
iar movements, cxhnassing the strength,
try thc system Violently, whereas the
bGdy7wcielt isgeasily employed without
consuming the vital energies.
~ From tho upright position of mans s
bt'dy, he is n"t fitted to draw loads. It,
therefore, this great difference is per-
ceivablc with his light frame, how great
mast be the waste Of strength when the
horse is prevented from throwing his
whole weight fairly Tito the collary Yet
this is constantly the case through var.
.ious causes.
First, and unfortunately, in too many
cases, the collar 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
pony, jammed on the neck of much
larger animal, so that every pull he
makes gives tho feeling of strangulation,
and that will, in all probability, cause
some kind of fit, if long continued, be-
sides it's liability to gall and wiring the
poor aniinafs shoulder. When this has
taken place, the work cannot be fairly
performed; and to do it all. the anguish
OF the poor horse must be indesoribable.
.y Secondly, the horse is often prevented
frc1a throwing his weight into the collar
by check. rein useless and painful
Incunlbrance, introduced by vanity and
retained by thoughtiessness amounting
to cruelty. Ask horSe-keepers why they
nse it, asA hardly any one will give the
nasne answer although it is generally
supposed by them to be great safeguard
in case of stumbling. The rea. 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 thc 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 suffering) come,
in little while, net only to be disregard
ed, but even looked at with appreciation
Fortunately this vitiated taste is rapidly
going out of fashion as better informa-
zion is 'diffused. Few of the London
cab drivers use check-reins Knowing
them TO be inconsistent with proper work !;
and when one is observed it will invar-
iably be foand to be on some poor ami