Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-10-30
HOW TO DRIVE.
A FEW SIMPLE RULES FOR
OWNERS OF HORSES.
Valuable Points About Harvesting,
HitchiDg and Sitting In the
Wagon Behind Trotter-
Some Artistic Drivers.

some Artistic Drivers.
To properly drive the light harness
horse, or, as he is known all over the
world, "the American trotter," there are
four things which arc essential for the
driver to know, and which not ten per
cent. of the drivers of the present day
know, viz; First, how to harness the
horse; second, how to hitch him to the
wagon; third, how to sit to look we'll
and at the same time ride comfortably,
and, fourth, how to hold the lines. OF
those who are master of the situation,
know fast trotting horse aud how to
handle him, the Russians come nearer to
it than those of any other country, but
were we to educate and train the Orloff
horse, they would have to take back
seat,as England had to do WITH the thor
oughbred.
The harness must be kept cleln, which
will greatly remove the danger Of chat
ing, and particularly the saddle, which,
if properly cared for and the back Of the
horse we'll washed with clean, cold water
when 1t is removed there will be no dan
ger of soreness there. The bride is the
hardest part to be made to fit nicely, and
when that is accomplished, one great and
often fatal mistake is very often made Of
drawing the throat latch too tight. 1t
crosses the windpipe, and as the horse
moves along he drops his nose a little,
thus expanding the throat, breathing
shorter at every stride, and finally chok
ing completely, Staggers and falls. Leave
the strap loose enough for you to place
your hand between it and the throat
without touching either. There will be
no danger of the bride coming off, as
the draught is always backward on it
from the check and lines, aud the bit and
browband prevent it from coming back
over the head. If you desire to stop
and tie the animal to post and ne is in
olined to rub his bride off, it is little
trouble to draw up the buckle hole or
two, letting it out again when starting.
The breast collar, also, should not be
drawn up too high, as that will likewise
affect the breathing Let it come up
Just to the lower point Of the neck and
have the hip straps of length that will
bring the breeching about on a line with
it. The thil loops should also be on
about the same line.
In hitching to the wagon another seri-
Gus mistake is often made with the
breeching. How many times you will
see a driver trying to get a little speed
out of his horse that is obliged to 90
hitchiDg and hobbIing along, simply be-
cause he is tied up so tight that he eau
not spread himself. When starding, and
the traces are Strengthened, there should
be about room enough for a small boy to
crawl through between the horse and the
breeching strap. He will then carry you
further and faster, and do it with less
effort, there being nothing to fret him.
In taking your seat in the wagon do
not try to lie down like lady In Vic
toria, but sit erect, allowing the small Of
your back to rest against the cushion,
and bend trihe forward. Place the
feet out against the rest and do not
crawl under the seat, causing the knees
to come in contact with the chin Wrap
the lap robe neatly about you and see
that no part Of it is hanging out Of the
wagon. When the lines are taut have
the hands out to carry the elbow about
three inches from the body, not up under
your chin, where you could not shorten
your hold instantly, neither have them
extended at arms length, as, should your
horse take little hold, you cannot pull
as hard or as long. Rugged in this man
ner, your horse is comfortable, you are
ready for any emergency, and comfort
able yourself, besides making a good
appearance, which should be taken into
consideration in this as we'll as in other
things.
There is one rule, which, il followed,
will always be successful, and though it
is old will do to repeat here. 1t is called
1.-THE Horses Prayer"
up bill hurry me not,
Down hill worry me not,
On the level spare me not,
And In the barn forget me mott