St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-08-06
POINTS ON DRIVING.



to Excel.
Four things are essential for the
driver to know, and which not ten per
cent of the drivers of the present day
know, are: First, how to harness tho
horse: second. how to hitch him to the
wagon; third, how to sit to look well
and at the same time ride comfortably;
fourth. how to hold the lines. OF those
who are masters of the situation. know
. fast trotting horse and how to man.
age him. the Russians come nearer TO it
than those of any other country. but
were we to educate and train the Orion
horse they would have to take 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 sad
die, which il 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 At nicely, and when that
is accomplished one great and often
fatal mistake IL rfrequently made Of
drawing the throatlatch too tight. 1t
crosses the windpipe, and n the horse
moves along he drops his nose . little,
thus expanding the throat, breathing
shorter at every stride, and final
ly choking completely, staggers and
falls. Leave the strap loose
enough for you to place your
hand between It and the throat with
out touching either. There will be no
danger of the bride coming OF. rs the
draft il always backward ON it from
the check and lines. and the bit and
browband prevents it from coming over
the head. II you desire To stop and tie
the animal to . post, and he is inclined
to rub his bride of. it is little trouble
70 draw up the buckle hole or two.
letting it out again when starting.
The breast collar, also. should not be
drawn up too high. rs that will like
wise affect the breathing. Let II 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 thill loops should also be
on about the same line.
In hitching to the wagon another Sc
rious mistake is often made with the
breeching. How many times you will
sec driver trying to get little speed
out of his horse that is obliged 10 go
hitching and hobbling along. simply BE-
cause he is tied up SO tight that he can
not spread himself. When standing and
the traces arc Strengthened, there should
be about room enough for q small boy
to crawl through between the horse and
breeching strap. He will then carry
you farther and faster, and do Il 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
toris, but sit erect allowing the small Of
your back to rest against the cushion,
and bend . little forward. Place tho
feet out against the rest and do not crawl
under the seat causing the knees 70
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 mp nm
der your chin. where you could not
shorten your hold instantly. neither
have them extended At arms length, Al,
should your horse take little hold you
can not pull as hard or rs long. Rugged
in this manner your horse is comfort
able, you are ready for any emergency
and comfortable yourself, besides maxi
ing . good appearance, which should be
taken into consideration, in this as well
rs in other things.-Philadelphia Re-
ord