The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-10-08
F1RM and HOUSEHOLD.
Driving Working Horses.

FTrst.-The load should be just what the
horse or team can move steadily along,
neither SO light that they are occupying
their time in going over the road with less
than they can draw, nor SO heavy that they
must over tax their strength to draw it, Oh
stop to take breath and to recover from the
effects of too hard a strain; III short, they
should do all they can do, comfortably,
never much less, and never any more.
Second.-Horses will work better if they
are kept well up to the bit, not sufficiently
to pull on it, but just enough to feel its
effect and to receive its support i'll case of
a false step, than when allowed to become
negligent and careless in their gait.
Ihird.-When there are two or more
horses in a team, they should be SO harness
ed as to draw exactly alike. This requires
them to be of uniform dispositions, and in
equally good training; any deviation from
this will cause one horse to do more, and
another less, than his share of the work.
FourM.-Working horses should never
be whipped while drawing, except it is
absolutely necessary, and then they should
not simply be tapped, but snartly punished
in manner that will cause them to under
stand and recollect that their driver really
means that they shall work, and work prop
erly.
FJM.-lf necessary to stop to rest before
going up 4 hill, let the halt be a little dis
lance from the foot of the hill, that they
may not get in the habit of stopping just
at the foot of every hill which they encoun-
ter. When they are fully rested and pre-
pared to go on, let them move vigorously,
but do not allow then to rash at the hill;
they would in such a case lose more in wind
than they would gain in impetus. If pos
sible, go moderately up every hill without
stopping, recolecting that it is much hard
Ell to start Il load against hill than it is to
keep it i'll motion after it is started. AT
the top of every difficult hill, either stop
the team or let them walk slowly for a few
rods, until they have recovered from the
effects Of the extra exertiUn.
,Sirh.-At all times and especially in diff
ficult places, or when first starting with 4
heavy load, the driver should carefully
avoid exciting his team by crossncss or i'm
patience, but should hold them steadily by
the bit, and talk to them in quiet and
determined manner, endcavoring to keep
them cool and rcsolute, pulling evenly and
steadily until they start their load, without
making sudden jump at it, rs many ner-
vous horses are inclined to do. Such a
movement is very likely to discomfort the
other horses, and it exliauSts the strength
more than ten times the effort properly ex-
pended
SecenM.-In descending hill, especially
if there is no break or drag on the wheels,
the team should be held back that the
wagon never gets an increasing speed, and
the pole should be kept in an exact line
with, and not dagonally across, the wagon.
EigAth-The team should never he so
hardly driven rs to become 6lo~n (where it
is possible to avoid IT'D nor should they
ever be allowed to become indolent, or
careless in their gait. They should always
be active and willing, but never impatient
to do more than is clearly within their
powers.-Amertcdn Stock Journal.