Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1885-01-15
DRESSING THE TROTTERS.
improvements Which Have Helped Lower the
Record-The Multitude Of Fixtures for

improvements In morse HXtuTcS
have almost reached their limit" a
Chambers street saddler and harness
maker said, "and If it were not for the
many improvements in the past thirty
years the records would not have been
lowered to where they are now. ANY
horse-breeder or trainer will acknowl-
edge that, because the principal inn
prOvements have been suggested by
practical breeders and expert trainers.
Without taking into account the great
improvements in road wagons and
sulkies, which for lightness and easy
running are very marvels in compari-
son with the heavy and ungraceful
vehicles of twenty-five years ago, the
improvements in harness alone are
enough to slice off some of the records.
Besides, they are cheaper. A good,
serviceable, light single harness can
now be made for SO. The trimmings
are, of course, tin plated, and the
stitching is plain. From that price
single harness run up into the hum
dreds, the nickel, lead, silver, and
gilt plating, rubber covering, line and
wave stitching, and quality of the
leather adding gradually to the cost.
II suppose the truck harness of to-
day is about as safe, strong, and per-
feet as is possible. The cost runs
from $40 up to 800. For the last nam
ed price we can make harness with
three inch saddle, rubber trimmings.
single leather traces sewed on the
breast-cCllar at one end, and the other
end lined eighteen inches, with three
holes to take up at the whiffletree !;
single leather breeching, with edges
beveled and FURNISHED smooth and
rounded inside breeching straps, with
edges rounded fiat hip straps, with
edges rounded patent check, with
check bit and half-check trotting
snafiie fine pad cloth under the sad
die, flat reins with patent book billet at
the bit, wide belly-bands with roller
buckles, saddle lined with enameled
leather. The stitching is fine and
neat, in handsome designs, and the
loops are all hand-creased. There
isn't an unnecessary part about it, and
il ought to satisfy any hOrseman. The
harness that Maud S. trots in cost
$l25. IT is light and fine, and was
specially made for her.
'YOu can imagine that a horse
when driven to his utmost speed must
have everything about him easy and
comfortable as possible. 1t is the
same as the best efforts of man who
has bad-fitting collar or rough
edged neck-band. 1t irritates him,
and he is thinking more of the annoy
ance than of his business. If horses
girth is too tight, or any other part
chafes him, he can't trot as fast as he
might. Sometimes the shaft-oirth
slips over the saddle-girth. pinches
the skin and pulls the hair The
horse feels that, and he is worried.
BY the way, the very latest improve
ment is saddlc-girth and shaft-girth in
one piece-practical improvement, l
mean, because the improvements in
ornaments, such as chains. buckles,
buttons, and designs fer monograms
and the so-called handy attachments
are almost endless. For ornamental
ton look at the four-in-hand position,
four-in-hand coach, long-tug coach,
with embossed work, coach, wagon
cite, rockaway, and carryall harness.
They are as different as the horses that
wear them. The tandem harness is
palmer and neater, and the coupe and
dog-cart harness are substantial and
neat. The village-cart harness is in
russet or black leather, trimmed with
aickcl, silver, or brass, and the price
is according to the amount of work
and the quantity of the trimming, say
from S25 to 500. To my eyes the
most pleasing sight is pair of sleek
trotters in a light double harness.
Each strap does its work, and is an aid
10 the horses. The best costs about
$l75. The cheapest is $25. 1t has
pads with timed trimmings; timed