The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-16
HOW TO DRIVE WELL.


world, 1.-THE American trottcr," there
5 are four things which are essential for
5 the driver to know and which not ten
per cent. of the drivers of the present
day know, viz: /. How to harness the
horse. g. How to hitch him to the
wagon. 3. How to sit to look we'll and
ant the same time ride comfortably. 4.
How to hold the lines. OF those who
arc masters of the situation, know
fast trotting horse and how to handle
him, the Russians come nearer to it
than those of any other country, but
were we to educate and train the Orlotf
horse they would have to take Il back
seat as England had to do with the
thoroughbred.
The harness must be kept clean,
which will greatly remove the danger
of chatting, and particularly the saddle,
which, if properly cared for and the
back of the horse well washed with
clean, cold water when it is removed
there will be no danger 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 windpipc, and as the horse
moves along he drops his nose little,
thus expanding the throat, breathing
shorter at every stride, and finally
choking completely, staggers and falls.
Leave the strap loose enough for
you To place your hand be-
tween it and the throat without
touching either. There will be no dan
ger of the bride coming off, as the
draught is always backward on it from
the check and lines and the bit and
browband prevent it from coming back
over the head. If you desire to stop
and tie the animal to post, and he is
inclined 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 like
wise affect the breathing. Let it come
up just to the lower point of the neck
and have the hip straps of Il length that
Will bring the breechng about on n
line with It, The thill loops should also
be on about the same line
In hltching to the wa Ton another Sc
rious mistake is often made with the
preceding. How many times you will
sec driver trying to get Il little speed
out of his horse that is obliged to go
hitching and hobbling along, simply be-
cause he is tied up SO tight that he can
not spread himself When standing and
tho traces arc Strengthened, there should
DC about room enough for n small boy
TO crawl through between the horse
and brceching strap. lie will then car
ry you further and faster, and do it
with less effort there being nothing to
fret him.
In taking your scat in the wagon do
not try to lie down. like lady in n
Victoria, 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 hang
ing out of the wagon. When the lines
arc taut have the hands out to carry
tile elbow about three inches from the
body, not up under the chin. where YOU
could not shorten your hold instantly,
neither have them extended at arms
length, as. should your horse take a
Httie hold, you cannot pull as hard
or as long. Rugged in this manner.
your horse is comfortable. You are
ready for any emergency andcomforta-
Die yourself. besides making Il good APP
pcarance, which should be taken into
consideration, in this as well as in 9th
CIR things
There Is one rule which if followed
VIII always be successful, and. though
III is old, will do to repeat here 1t is
called "Thc Horses Prayer
Up hill hurry me nor
Down hill worry mo not
On the level spare me not
And in the burn fors ct me not
But the Skill in driving a single trot- |
der is nothing compared with driving |
two, and one can almost count the ar |
'tistic team drivers on his fingers Dan |
Moore was acknowledged the crack |
professional wher alive. but among |
gentlemen who only drove for !
pleasure William H. Vanderbilt
was without doubt the best,
and, although he was classcd as an
amateur. there were few professionals |
who could equal him. At the present |
day his performance, driving Maud S. |
and Aldne full mile in 2:153I to a top |
wagon, is considered the best by horse !
men. John Shepherd, the Boston mcr-
chant, also showed himself an artist |
behind his crack team, Mill BOY and !
Blondinc. The best dou bic team driver |
of the present day is c. j. Ilumlin, of
buffalo. Last season, when i'm his !
scvcnty-scvcnth year, he drove Belle
Hamlin and JUSTINE mile in a:13I.-
Philadelphia Record
HOUSES WITHOUT NAILS.