The morning call., 1894-07-01

senses. Then. if You cannot afford 10
blow his brains out, sell him to trainer.
A kicking horse is not worth his feed for
pleasure driving.
Thus much for your own safety and
comfort in driving. There are few points
relating to the comfort and safety of the
horse that should also be borne in mind.
Never strike horse without first speak
ing to him. He is a very nervous crea-
ture, and an unexpected blow is not only
a shock at the time it is received. but it
makes him anxious and appreheusve of
still another. Like lightning out of
clear sky, it always takes him by surprise.
Then, too, ii ne accelerates his apeed for
a word he does not need the whip and it
becomes an unnecessary cruelty. If you
are driving on stony road look out for
the chances of his picking up a stone in
his foot. Glance at his feet occasionally
as he picks them up. and if he begins to
limp get out at once and remove the stone
which, in all probability, has got wedged
in his honf. This sounds hard to do. but
is not Take hold of the foot gently by
the fetIocR, first, however passing your
hand quietly down the leg, and give gen.
tie tug. The foot will probably come up
at once. If it does not Iull harder and be
will lift it, and it will usually be an easy
matter to pick the stone out with your
fingers. If the fetlocks ale trimmed tickle
the ankle gently and catch the foot as he
he lifts It,
As to speed and distance in driving
much depends upon both the animal and
the driver. A well-bred horse is usually
generous with his strength and is more
easily kept to rapid pace than is a scrub,
even though the latter has greater natural
speed. A sound, well-broken animal, say
fifteen hands high. who is not subjected to
needless annoyance by his driver, should
be able to walk four or FIVE miles n hour
on good road, to trot ten miles, and
under the saddle to gallop eighteen, al
though it is n OF usually desirable to keep
a horse to any such pace as the last mem
toned. A good horse ought to pull 600
pounds on good road ten miles an hour
for two OF three hours without showing
any distress If he is not worried. that is,
if he is made to 90 first fast, then slow,
fretted with whip or rens and uncertain
handling be cannot do nearly so well as
this. The nature Of the road must be taken
into consideration. Ii it is much uphill
the animal should be allowed to walk up
heavy grades and should never be trotted
down, as this is hard on shoulders and
knees. Of all roads dead leve is hardest
10 travel for man or beast. Its steady pull
is wearying and its mODOtOny distracting.
If the horse is travelling within his gait
he will pull the vehicle smoothly. If you
feel any jerkiness of motion, even though
he may not be going as fast as bis custom
ary pace, you may be sure something is
wrong, and you should pull him In until
he travels smoothly and evenly.
AS general thing, in travelling over a
bad road, when the desire IS to save the
horse, it is not good policy to turn out for
mudholes and rough places. Unless they
are very bad indeed the change of course
and diversion from the way Will be harder
on the horse tnan the effort to pull over
the bad places. If you are on a heavy
grade you should have your greatest load
as far forward as possible. The shorter
the traces, so he has room to move freely,
the easier the draft will be for the horse.
There are certain rules in riding and
driving that no one should be ignorant Of.
In meeting rig you should keep to the
right, in this country; in passing one going
in the same direction as yourself. keep To
the left. Always give the heavier load the
right of way. Never drive rapidly close
behind another carriage or wagon. The
driver in front of you may stop suddenly.
with unpleasant results.
There Is one exception to the rule for
passing on the left In Overtaking. This is
when the party you are passing is leading
a horse. led horse Is apt to kick al any
passing object, so in passing go TO the side
away from him.
In riding much the same rules are to be
observed as in driving, but in crowded
streets the equestrienne has ID ore to attend
to in keeping her horse out of danger, be-
cause vehicles and foot-passengers have
the right of way. This the rider is apt TO
forget, and is often unpardonably careless
about getting in the way. In fact, eques-
trian insolence is almost proverbial from
''the beggar on horseback" to the society
belle taking her morning canter in the
park.
The dangers that confront the driver