Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-01-16
DRESSING rHE TROTTERs.


street Sa00ter ana hnrncsSKnakcr said.
and If it were not for the many i'm
proyemcnts in the past thirty years the
records would not have been lowered to
where they arc now. ANY horse breeder
or trainer will acknowledge that, because
the principal improvements have been
suggested by practical breeders and cx-
pert trainers Without taking into &C
count the great improvements in road
wagons and sulkics. which for lightness
and easy running are marvellous ia COM
parison with the heavy and ungraceful
vehicles Of twenty-five years ago, the i'm
provements in harnesses alone are enough
TO slice of some of the records Beside,
they are cheaper. A good, serviccable,
light single harness can now he made for
six dollars. The trimmings are, of
course, tin plated, an d the stitching is
plain. From that price single harnesses
run up into the hundreds, the nickel,
lead, silver aud gilt plating. rubber COW
ering, line and wave stitching, and
quality of the leather adding gradually
to the cost.
a suppose the truck harness OF to-day
is about as safe, strong, and perfect as is
possible. The cost runs from $50 up to
$50. For the last named price we can
make harness with three-inch saddle,
rubber trimmings, single leather traces
sewed on the breast-collar at one end,
and the other end lined eighteen inches,
with three holes TO take up at the whiffie
tree; single leather brceching, with edges
beveled and FURNISHED smooth and
rounded inside, breeching straps, with
edges rounded; flat hip straps, with
edges rounded patent check. with check
bit and half-check trotting sEaEile; fine
pad cloth under the saddle, fiat reins
with patent hook billet at the bit, wide
belly-bands with roller buckles, saddle
lined with cnameled leather The stitch
ing is fine and neat. in handsome designs,
and the loops are all hand-creased. There
isn't an unnecessary part about it, and it
ought to satisfy any horscman The har-
ness that Maud S. trots in cost $l25, It
is light and fine, and was specially made
for her.
ssYou can imagine that horse when
driven to his topmost speed must have
everything about him as easy and
comfortable as possible. Il isthe same
as the best efforts of a man who has
bad fitting collar or q rough-edged neck
band. 1t irritates him, and he is think
ing more of the annoyance than of his
business. If q horses girth 10 too tight,
or any other part chafes him, he can't
trot so fast as he might. Sometimes the
shaft-girth slips over the saddle girth,
pinches the skin, and pulls the hair.
The horse feels that, and is worried. BY
the way, the very latest improvement
70 em&h nd nfa ~
one practical improvement, |
mcan because in the improvements In
ornaments such as chains, buckles, but
tons and designs for monograms and the
so-called handy attachments are almost
endless. For ornamentatioE look at the
fourth hand position. -four in hand
coach, long-tug coach, with embossed
work, coach, wagonettc, rockaway and
carryall harness. They are as different
MS the horses that wear them. The tan
dem harness is palmer and neater. and
the coupe and dog-c harness are sub
stantial and neat. The village cart har-
ness is in russell or black leather, trim
med with nickel silver, or brass. and
the price is according TO the amount Of
work and the quantity of the Trimming
say from SEQ to 800. To my eyes the
most pleasing sight is a pair of sleek
trotters in a light double harness. Each
strap does its work and is an aid to the
horses. Tho best costs about $i55. The
cheapest is $25. 1t has pads with timed
trimmings; timed rings in hamcs, with
timed buckles in the tug; small buckles
japanned; fat winkcr braces or the bril-
die; round check reins; p,tcns-eather
collar and hard belly band and martin
gale"
ssWhat was the cost of the highest.
priced harness you have ever seena"
Five thousand dollars. It was In
Philadelphia during the centennial exhi
bition. 1t was gold mounted and stitched
ia elaborate designs. It was clumsy and
awkward, and nobody would buy it. In
fact, would :, take il to sell for 81 O00 .
: Bits have changed very much, be-
lieve."
Indeed they have. A horses mouth
is one of the hardest parts # him to fit,
so to speak Some OF the old bits were
perfect instruments of tortur-. The rub
ber-covered bits. stiff and eexiblA arc
highly approved. The steel bits are
made in dozens of shapes and for all COM
plants, such As side-pulling. Juggling.
and tongue lolling, and are stiff iOintee
and flexible. The boots for valuable
horse cost almost Is much as those for
man. The quarter boot is to prevent in
jury by over-reaching. the toe DOT on
the hind foot to prevent the front foot
cutting the hoof BY striking back, aud
the lawn boot Is for walking on lawns,
pulling on over the shoes The shin.
@.@4@4, 4-se~@ f<&n1- L. - 4.