The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-08-05
Tn. Care of the working Team.

The Care Of the Working Team.
In our management of teams in the
hard work of spring, I have always
had more trouble to keep the shoulders
sound than in any other respect, writes
a contributor to Country Gentleman.
Much of this no doubt due to the fact
that 1 have never followed the plow
very closely. but have left this to the
employed help. For a few years l have
aimed to tighten the harness as much
as possible, for every unnecessary
pound a horse carries takes that much
of his strength against the collar. At
wagon work, where only one team ts
used. I use hip-straps, as they assist
in keeping the traces in place. But
in blowing or other work, where the
center Of draft is low, I discard them.
for the reason that they add to the
weight Of the harness. Besides. If an
outfit of harness is kept with hip
straps for all teams used at the busiest
seasons, they r. hanging up most OF
the year. and when wanted, are found
to be injured by rats and mice. When
hip-straps with cruppers are used III
hot weather, the straps are objection
able, on account of keeping the harness
too much in the same place on the
horses. Particularly is this true as re-
CARDS the collars on top Of the neck;
this constant bearing of the weight OF
collar, names and traces on the top
of the neck causes gals and sores. that
are the hardest to manage when the
farmer is in a hurry. Sometimes l am
compelled to use the hip-straps to en-
able me to keep heads up. At present
one of my best work horses has head
down when anything to eat Is ID
reach.
Some years ago I tried pads as q
preventive of shoulder sores, and to
lengthen the use of old collars. Event
ually I discarded the pads entirely, and
bought a better class of collars. Thu
great objection to the pads is extra
weight and heat. A collar that will
ft.a horse right at the beginning Of
the blowing season too often gets too
large before the season is out, on &C.
count of the reduced flesh Of the horse
This can be remedied to a great ex
tent by the use Of a link pad under the
top of the collar. This pad should be
large enough to prevent the edges
chatting the neck. I find it advisable
to use them most of the year, and make
it a point to put them on where there
is any weight to be carried on the
necks. There is more or less OF thia
in using a wagon, or any other nipple
ment with a tongue.
Another practice that I have found
satisfactory is to take water to the
fields for the horses when the weather
is excessively warm, and the WORK
heavy. especially at harvest time. This
is but little trouble, and Is a wonder
full help to the teams. A barrel Il
put on u low one-horse sled. driven
to the we'll, and filled, and as the team
| goes out to work in the morning, OF
after dinner, is drawn to q convenient
point in tie field. Once or twice dur
ing the half day the horses are watered
with a bucket. By wrapping the barrel
with gunny sacking, and keeping II
wet, the water can be kept from getting
too warm to be relished. Whether there
is much in the practice or not. there
is the feeling that an effort in the way
of kindness has been made to help the
horses endure more easily the heat and
heavy work.