,,the ,,american ,,sportsman',s ,,library ,,edited ,,by ,,caspar ,,whitney ,,riding ,,and ,,driving ,illustration ,illustration ,the ,gallop-change from ,right to ,left4 ,the horse1 having been in gallop right1 has just gone into air from the right fore leg4 ,the right hind leg was then planted1 which will be followed in turn by the left hind leg1 then the right fore leg1 and lastly the left fore leg1 from which the horse will go into air2 the change from gallop right to gallop left having been made without disorder or a false step4 ,,riding ,,and ,,driving ,,riding ,,by ,,edward ,l4 ,,anderson ,,author ,,of ,,modern ,,horsemanship1 ,,curb1 ,,snaffle1 ,,and ,,spur1 ,,etc41 ,,etc4 ,,driving ,,hints ,,on ,,the ,,history1 ,,housing1 ,,harnessing ,,and ,,handling ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,,by ,,price ,,collier ,new ,york ,,the ,,macmillan ,,company ,,london3 ,,macmillan ,,co41 ,,ltd4 #aije ,all rights reserved ,,copyright1 #aije4 ,,by ,,the ,,macmillan ,,company4 ,set up and electrotyped4 ,published ,april1 #aije4 ,norwood ,press ,j4 ,s4 ,cushing ,co4--,berwick ,smith ,co4 ,norwood1 ,mass41 ,u4,s4,a4 ,,contents ,,riding ,,by ,,edward ,l4 ,,anderson ,,chapter ,,page ,i4 ,,breeding ,,the ,,saddle-,,horse #c ,,ii4 ,,handling ,,the ,,young ,,horse #bj ,,iii4 ,,the ,,purchase1 ,,the ,,care1 ,,and ,,the ,,sale ,,of ,,the ,,saddle-,,horse #cj ,,iv4 ,,some ,,saddle-,,horse ,,stock ,,farms #dg ,v4 ,,the ,,saddle--,,the ,,bridle--,,how ,,to ,,mount #ed ,,vi4 ,,the ,,seat--,,general ,,horsemanship #fd ,,vii4 ,,american ,,horsemanship--,,our ,,cavalry #gh ,,viii4 ,,how ,,to ,,ride--,,the ,,snaffle-,,bridle--,,the ,,walk ,,and ,,the ,,trot--,,shying--,,the ,,cunning ,,of ,,the ,,horse--,,sulking--,,rearing--,,defeati ng ,,the ,,horse #he ,,ix4 ,,what ,,training ,,will ,,do ,,for ,a ,,horse--,,the ,,forms ,,of ,,collection #ajc ,x4 ,,the ,,spur #aji ,,xi4 ,,some ,,work ,,on ,,foot--,,the ,,suppling #aab ,,xii4 ,,the ,,curb-,,and-,,snaffle ,,bridle--,,guiding ,,by ,,the ,,rein ,,against ,,the ,,neck--,,croup ,,about ,,forehand--,,upon ,,two ,,paths #aba ,,xiii4 ,,the ,,gallop1 ,,and ,,the ,,gallop ,,change--,,wheel ,,in ,,the ,,gallop--,,pirouette ,,turn--,,halt ,,in ,,the ,,gallop #abg ,,xiv4 ,,backing #ace ,,xv4 ,,jumping #ach ,,xvi4 ,,general ,,remarks #adg ,,driving ,,by ,,price ,,collier ,,introduction ,i ,i4 ,,economic ,,value ,,of ,,the ,,horse #aei ,,ii4 ,,the ,,natural ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,horse #afi ,,iii4 ,,the ,,early ,,days ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,,in ,,america #agi ,,iv4 ,,points ,,of ,,the ,,horse #aie ,v4 ,,the ,,stable #baa ,,vi4 ,,feeding ,,and ,,stable ,,management #bbe ,,vii4 ,,first ,,aid ,,to ,,the ,,injured #bci ,,viii4 ,,shoeing #bea ,,ix4 ,,harness #bei ,x4 ,,the ,,american ,,horse #bhd ,,xi4 ,a ,,chapter ,,of ,,little ,,things #cjj ,,xii4 ,,driving ,,one ,,horse #cae ,,xiii4 ,,driving ,a ,,pair #ccc ,,xiv4 ,,driving ,,four #cec ,,xv4 ,,the ,,tandem #cib ,,xvi4 ,,driving ,,tandem4 ,by ,t4 ,suffern ,tailer #dja ,,bibliography #dbg ,,index #dbi ,,illustrations ,,riding ,,by ,,edward ,l4 ,,anderson ,the ,gallop-change from ,right to ,left4 ,the horse1 having been in gallop right1 has just gone into air from the right fore leg4 ,the right hind leg was then planted1 which will be followed in turn by the left hind leg1 then the right fore leg1 and lastly the left fore leg1 from which the horse will go into air2 the change from gallop right to gallop left having been made without disorder or a false step ,frontispiece ,,figure ,,facing ,,page #a4 ,race-horse in ,training4 ,photograph by ,r4 ,h4 ,cox #e #b4 ,dick ,wells4 ,holder of the world's record for one mile4 ,photograph by ,r4 ,h4 ,cox4 #e #c4 ,thoroughbred ,mare1 ,l',indienne4 ,property of ,major ,david ,castleman4 ,photograph by the author #g #d4 ,cayuse4 ,photograph by ,w4 ,g4 ,walker #g #e4 ,abayan ,koheilan4 ,arab stallion1 bred by ,amasi ,hamdani1 ,smyri1 ,sheik of the ,district of ,nagd4 ,property of ,sutherland ,stock ,farm1 ,cobourg1 ,canada #g #f4 ,norwegian ,fiord ,stallion4 ,imported by the author #i #g4 ,mafeking1 #af4b1 by ,temple out of a ,mare by ,judge ,curtis4 ,the property of ,colin ,campbell1 ,esq41 ,manor ,house1 ,st4 ,hilaire1 ,quebec1 ,canada4 ,this splendid animal has been hunted for three seasons with the ,montreal ,fox ,hounds4 ,he shows great power and quality1 and is master of any riding weight #i #h4 ,prize-winning ,charger4 ,property of ,major ,castleman4 ,photograph by the author #i #i4 ,morgan ,stallion1 ,meteor4 ,property of ,mr4 ,h4 ,p4 ,crane4 ,photograph by ,schreiber ,sons #i #aj4 ,mademoiselle ,guerra on ,rubis1 a ,trakhene ,stallion #aj #aa4 ,highland ,denmark4 ,property of ,gay ,brothers1 ,pisgah1 ,kentucky4 ,the sire of more prize winners in saddle classes than any other stallion in ,america4 ,photograph by the author #aj #ab4 ,brood ,mare1 ,dorothy4 ,owned by ,general ,castleman4 ,this mare has a record of first prize in nearly seventy show rings #ab #ac4 ,cecil ,palmer1 ,american ,saddle-horse1 ,racking4 ,owned and ridden by ,major ,david ,castleman4 ,photograph by the author #ab #ad4 ,the ,cavesson4 ,photograph by the author #bc #ae4 ,the ,horse goes about the ,man at the ,full ,length of the ,cavesson ,rein4 ,photograph by the author #bc #af4 ,elevating the ,head of the ,horse with the ,snaffle-bit4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #bf #ag4 ,dropping the ,head and ,suppling the ,jaw4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #bf #ah4 ,bending ,head with ,snaffle4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #bh #ai4 ,a ,leg ,up4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #bh #bj4 ,silvana4 ,an ,english half-bred mare1 imported by the author4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #cg #ba4 ,montgomery ,chief1 ,champion ,saddle ,stallion of ,america4 ,property of ,ball ,brothers1 ,versailles1 ,kentucky4 ,photograph by the author #cg #bb4 ,riding-house of the ,author #dd #bc4 ,garrard4 ,two years old4 ,owned and ridden by ,major ,david ,castleman4 ,photograph by the author #ea #bd4 ,carbonel4 ,four years old4 ,owned and ridden by ,major ,david ,castleman4 ,photograph by the author #ea #be4 ,high ,lassie4 ,two years old4 ,owned by ,gay ,brothers1 ,pisgah1 ,kentucky4 ,photograph by the author #ec #bf4 ,mares and ,foals4 ,gay ,brothers4 ,photograph by the author #ec #bg4 ,stirling ,chief4 ,property of ,colonel ,j4 ,t4 ,woodford1 ,mt4 ,stirling1 ,kentucky4 ,photograph by the author #ee #bh4 ,stirling ,chief in the ,trot4 ,photograph by the author #ee #bi4 ,double ,bridle ,fitted4 ,photograph by the author #eh #cj4 ,mounting with ,stirrups4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #eh #ca4 ,mounting without ,stirrups4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #fj #cb4 ,mounting without ,stirrups4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #fj #cc4 ,dismounting without ,stirrups4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #fj #cd4 ,jockey ,seat4 ,photograph by ,r4 ,h4 ,cox #fb #ce4 ,pointing the ,knees above the ,crest of the ,horse4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #fb #cf4 ,dropping the ,knees to take the ,seat without ,stirrups4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #fe #cg4 ,the ,seat4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #fe #ch4 ,leaning ,back4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #fe #ci4 ,german ,cavalry4 ,photograph by ,o4 ,anschutz #fg #dj4 ,monsieur ,leon de ,gisbert4 ,photograph by the author #fi #da4 ,monsieur ,h4 ,l4 de ,bussigny4 ,formerly an officer of the ,french ,army #fi #db4 ,chasseurs d',afrique #ga #dc4 ,spahis4 ,arabs in the ,algerian army of ,france #ga #dd4 ,a ,french ,officer4 ,good man and good horse #gc #de4 ,french ,officers #gc #df4 ,italian ,officers4 ,the horsemanship here exhibited is above criticism4 ,courtesy of the ,goerz ,co4 #gc #dg4 ,italian ,officers #gc #dh4 ,an ,italian ,officer4 ,the pose of the horse proves the truth of the photograph #gc #di4 ,trooper ,royal ,horse ,guards4 ,photograph by ,f4 ,g4 ,o4 ,stuart #gf #ej4 ,scots ,grays4 ,tent ,pegging4 ,photograph by ,f4 ,g4 ,o4 ,stuart #gf #ea4 ,general ,castleman #gh #eb4 ,mr4 ,c4 ,elmer ,railey #hj #ec4 ,a ,rider of the ,plains4 ,photograph by ,w4 ,g4 ,walker #hj #ed4 ,colonel ,w4 ,f4 ,cody1 ,buffalo ,bill4 ,photograph by ,stacy #hc #ee4 ,an ,american ,horseman #hc #ef4 ,troopers of the ,fourth and the ,eighth ,cavalry1 ,united ,states ,army4 ,photograph by the author #he #eg4 ,captain ,w4 ,c4 ,short4 ,instructor of ,riding at ,fort ,riley4 ,photograph by the author #he #eh4 ,three ,officers at ,fort ,riley4 ,photograph by the author #hg #ei4 ,the ,small ,pony is but a ,toy4 ,photograph by ,mary ,woods #ij #fj4 ,up to ,ten or ,twelve ,years of ,age ,girls should ride in the ,cross ,saddle to learn the ,effects of the ,aids4 ,photograph by the author #ij #fa4 ,the ,alertness of ,in ,hand4 ,photograph by ,r4 ,h4 ,cox #ib #fb4 ,in ,hand in ,walk4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #ib #fc4 ,united ,halt1 between ,heels and ,hand4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #id #fd4 ,in ,hand in ,trot4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #id #fe4 ,preventing the ,horse rearing by bending the ,croup to ,one ,side4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #ig #ff4 ,rearing with ,extended ,fore ,legs4 ,photograph by ,walker #ig #fg4 ,major ,h4 ,l4 ,ripley1 ,eighth ,cavalry1 ,united ,states ,army4 ,horse rearing with bent fore legs #aja #fh4 ,rolling up a ,restive ,horse #aja #fi4 ,closely ,united4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #ajb #gj4 ,half-halt4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #ajb #ga4 ,the ,scratch of the ,spur4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #ajh #gb4 ,halt with the ,spurs4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #ajh #gc4 ,direct ,flexion of the ,jaw4 ,the snaffle holds the head up4 ,the curb-bit1 with the reins drawn toward the chest of the horse1 induces the animal to yield the jaw1 when the tension upon the reins is released and the animal so rewarded for its obedience4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #aab #gd4 ,the ,result of the ,direct ,flexion of the ,jaw4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #aab #ge4 ,bending ,head and ,neck with the ,curb-bit4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #aae #gf4 ,bending ,head and ,neck with the ,curb-bit4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #aae #gg4 ,carrying the ,hind ,legs under the ,body4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #aag #gh4 ,croup about ,forehand1 to the ,right4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #aag #gi4 ,croup about ,forehand1 to the ,right4 ,the left fore leg the pivot4 ,the head bent toward the advancing croup4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #aai #hj4 ,in ,hand in ,place4 ,photograph by ,h4 ,s4 #aai #ha4 ,the ,indirect ,indication of the ,curb-bit4 ,to turn the horse to the right by bringing the left rein against the neck of the horse4 ,the rider's hand carried over to the right1 the thumb pointing to the right shoulder #abb #hb4 ,the ,indirect ,indication of the ,curb-bit4 ,to turn the horse to the left4 ,the rider's hand is carried over to the left1 the thumb pointing to the ground over the left shoulder of the horse #abb #hc4 ,reversed ,pirouette1 to the ,left4 ,the hind quarters are carried to the left1 about the right fore leg as pivot1 the head bent to the left #abd #hd4 ,passing on ,two ,paths to the ,right4 ,the forehand slightly in advance of the croup4 ,the head of the horse slightly bent in the direction of progress #abd #he4 ,the ,gallop4 ,the horse in air #abf #hf4 ,the ,hind ,legs are committed to a ,certain ,stride in the ,gallop before the ,horse goes into ,air #abf #hg4 ,gallop ,right4 ,the change must be begun by the hind legs as soon as they are free from the ground4 ,the last seven photographs by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #abf #hh4 ,the ,wheel in the ,gallop4 ,in two paths1 the hind feet on a small inner circle #aca #hi4 ,the ,pirouette ,wheel4 ,the inner hind leg remains in place as a pivot #aca #ij4 ,backing4 ,taking advantage of the impulse produced by the whip tap to carry the mass to the rear4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #ace #ia4 ,backing4 ,the same principles are observed4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #ace #ib4 ,jumping ,in ,hand4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #ach #ic4 ,the ,narrow ,hurdle4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #ach #id4 ,jumping ,in ,hand4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #ach #ie4 ,jumping a ,narrow ,hurdle4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #adb #if4 ,jumping a ,narrow ,hurdle4 ,photograph by ,m4 ,f4 ,a4 #adb #ig4 ,hurdle-racing4 ,photograph by ,r4 ,h4 ,cox #aea #ih4 ,thistledown4 ,four years old4 ,property of ,mr4 ,a4 ,e4 ,ash brook4 ,record of seven feet one and three-quarters inches4 ,photograph by ,e4 ,n4 ,williams #aea #ii4 ,denny ,racking4 ,property of ,mr4 ,j4 ,s4 ,neane4 ,photograph by the author #aed #ajj4 ,denny at the ,running ,walk4 ,photograph by the author #aed #aja4 ,casting a ,horse without ,apparatus4 ,photograph by ,m4,f4,a4 #aed ,,driving ,,by ,,price ,,collier ,,plate ,i4 ,protorohippus #afg ,,ii4 ,development of ,horse's ,foot ,from ,toes to ,one #afg ,,iii4 ,neohipparion #agj ,,iv4 ,skull of ,horse ,eight ,years ,old #agj ,v4 ,teeth of ,horse #aie ,,vi4 ,teeth of ,horse #aig ,,vii4 ,polo ,pony #aii ,,viii4 ,light-harness ,horse #aii ,,ix4 ,harness ,type #bjb ,x4 ,flying ,cloud1 ,harness ,type #bjb ,,xi4 ,children's ,pony #bjd ,,xii4 ,children's ,pony #bjd ,,xiii4 ,good ,shoulders1 ,legs1 and ,feet #bjf ,,xiv4 ,heavy-harness ,types #bjf ,,xv4 ,stable ,plan #bai ,,xvi4 ,skeleton of the ,horse #bde ,,xvii4 ,internal ,parts of the ,horse #bde ,,xviii4 ,external ,parts of the ,horse #beb ,,xix4 ,foot of the ,horse #beb ,,xx4 ,bridoon ,bit2 ,double-ring ,snaffle-bit2 ,half-cheek ,jointed ,snaffle-bit #bfa ,,xxi4 ,bit found on ,acropolis2 date1 #ejj ,b4,c4 #bfa ,,xxii4 ,single ,harness #bfc ,,xxiii4 ,elbow-bit2 ,liverpool ,bit2 ,buxton ,bit2 ,gig-bit #bff ,,xxiv4 ,swale's ,patent ,bit #bfh ,,xxv4 ,brush ,burr #bfh ,,xxvi4 ,plain ,burr #bfh ,,xxvii4 ,hambletonian #bic ,,xxviii4 ,george ,wilkes #bic ,,xxix4 ,driving a ,pair #cda ,,xxx4 ,driving a ,pair #cdh ,,xxxi4 ,positions of ,whip #ceg ,,xxxii4 ,driving ,four #cfd ,,xxxiii4 ,pony ,tandem #cia ,,xxxiv4 ,tandem ,dog-cart #cid ,,xxxv4 ,high and ,dangerous ,cocking-cart #cid ,,xxxvi4 ,tandem of ,mr4 ,mc,candless #djd ,,xxxvii4 ,tandem of ,mr4 ,t4 ,suffern ,tailer #djd ,,riding ,,by ,,edward ,l4 ,,anderson ,,riding ,,chapter ,i ,,breeding ,,the ,,saddle-,,horse ,the thoroughbred is universally recognized as the finest type of the horse1 excelling all other races in beauty1 in stamina1 in courage1 and in speed2 and1 further1 it is capable in the highest degree of transmitting to its posterity these valuable qualities4 ,indeed1 the greatest virtue possessed by this noble animal lies in its power of producing1 upon inferior breeds1 horses admirably adapted to many useful purposes for which the blooded animal itself is not fitted4 ,in ,england and upon the continent the thoroughbred is held in high esteem for the saddle2 but1 as ,general ,basil ,duke justly remarks1 it has not that agility so desirable in a riding-horse1 and because of its low action and extended stride it is often wanting in sureness of foot1 and in ,america we prefer to ride the half-breed with better action4 ,occasionally the thoroughbred is found that fills the requirements of the most exacting rider1 and the author has had at least six blood-horses that were excellent under the saddle4 ,one of these1 represented by a photograph in a previous work1 in a gallop about a lance held in the rider's hand1 gave sufficient proof of quickness and suppleness4 ,however1 it is admitted on all hands that the horse which most nearly approaches the thoroughbred1 and yet possesses the necessary qualities which the superior animal lacks1 will be the best for riding purposes4 ,although every thoroughbred traces its ancestry in the direct male line to the ,byerly ,turk1 #afij1 the ,darley ,arabian1 circa #agjj1 or the ,godolphin ,barb1 circa #agbe1 and it is impossible to find an ,english race-horse which does not combine the blood of all three1 the experience of modern horsemen points to the fact that the blood-horse is as near to the ,eastern horse as we should go with the stallion in breeding for the race-course or for ennobling baser strains4 ,in view of the great influence that these three horses had almost immediately upon ,english breeds1 this present exclusion of the ,eastern stallion is striking2 but it means simply that the race-horse of our day has more admirable qualities to transmit than the sire of any other blood4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #a4--,,race-,,horse ,,in ,,training ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #b4--;,,dick ,,wells4 ,,holder ,,of ,,the ,,record ,,for ,,one ,,mile ,the ,bedouin ,arabian of the ,nejd district1 supposed to be the purest strain of the race and the fountainhead of all the ,eastern breeds1 has become degenerate during the past two hundred years2 too often horses of this royal blood are found undersized1 calf-kneed1 and deficient in many points4 ,notwithstanding the virtues that such animals may yet be able to transmit1 ,i venture to say that the disdained ,arab of ,turkey1 ,persia1 ,egypt1 and even that of ,europe1 as well as the so-called ,barb1 are better and more useful horses1 and it is from these impure races that nearly all of the ,eastern blood has come that has found its way into the crosses of ,european horses during the past hundred years or more4 ,indeed1 if we may believe the statements of the partisans of the ,eastern horse1 but very little of the best ,arab blood has been introduced into ,europe4 ,the ,darley ,arabian1 the ancestor of the best strains in the world1 was doubtless of pure desert blood4 ,his color1 form1 and other characteristics have always satisfied horsemen that his lineage could not be questioned4 ,in crosses of thoroughbred strains and desert blood the stallion should be of the former race2 but in bringing ,eastern blood into inferior breeds the blood of the latter should be represented by the mare4 ,all good crosses are apt to produce better riding-horses than those of a direct race4 ,from the fossil remains found in various parts of the world it is certain that the horse appeared in many places during a certain geological period1 and survived where the conditions were favorable4 ,but whether ,western ,asia is or is not the home of the horse1 he was doubtless domesticated there in very early times1 and it was from ,syria that the ,egyptians received their horses through their ,bedouin conquerors4 ,the horses of the ,babylonians probably came from ,persia1 and the original source of all these may have been ,central ,asia1 from which last-named region the animal also passed into ,europe1 if the horse were not indigenous to some of the countries in which history finds it4 ,we learn that ,sargon ,i4 7#chjj ,b4,c47 rode in his chariot more than two thousand years before there is an exhibition of the horse in the ,egyptian sculptures or proof of its existence in ,syria1 and his kingdom of ,akkad bordered upon ,persia1 giving a strong presumption that the desert horse came from the last-named region1 through ,babylonian hands4 ,it seems1 after an examination of the representations upon the monuments1 that the ,eastern horse has changed but little during thousands of years4 ,taking a copy of one of the sculptures of the palace of ,ashur-bani-pal1 supposed to have been executed about the middle of the seventh century before our era1 and assuming that the bare-headed men were #e feet #h inches in height1 ,i found that the horses would stand about #ad hands--very near the normal size of the desert horse of our day4 ,the horses of ancient ,greece must have been starvelings from some ,northern clime1 for the animals on the ,parthenon frieze are but a trifle over #ab hands in height1 and are the prototypes of the ,norwegian ,fiord pony--a fixed type of a very valuable small horse4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #c4--,,thoroughbred ,,brood-,,mare ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #d4--;,,cayuse ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #e4--;,,desert-,,bred ,,arab ,,stallion ,the horse was found in ,britain from the earliest historical times1 and new blood was introduced by the ,romans1 by the ,normans1 and under many of the successors of ,william the ,conqueror4 ,the ,turkish horse and the barb1 it is understood1 were imported long before the reign of ,james ,i41 when ,markham's ,arabian1 said to be the first of pure desert blood1 was brought into the country2 but from that time many horses were introduced from the ,east1 of strains more or less pure4 ,the ,eastern horse was the foundation upon which the ,englishman reared the thoroughbred1 but we must not lose sight of the skill of the builder nor of the material furnished by native stock4 ,the desert strains furnished beauty1 courage1 and stamina2 the native blood gave size1 stride1 and many other good qualities2 the ,english breeder combined all these and produced what no other nation has approached1 the incomparable thoroughbred4 ,we accept the thoroughbred as we find him4 ,no man can say exactly how he was produced4 ,the great ,eclipse 7#agfd7 has upward of a dozen mares in his short pedigree 7he was fourth in descent from the ,darley ,arabian7 whose breeding is unknown and which were doubtless native mares1 for already the descendants of ,eastern horses were known and noted4 ,what is true of the breeding of ,eclipse is true of many of his contemporaries who played prominent parts in the studs of their day4 ,for more than one hundred years no desert-bred stallion has had any marked influence upon the race-horse directly through a thoroughbred mare4 ,in the first decade of the last century a barb stallion bred to a barb mare produced ,sultana1 who brought forth the granddam of ,berthune to ,sir ,archy4 ,berthune was much sought after as a sire for riding-horses2 besides this barb blood he had strains of ,diomed and of ,saltram in his veins1 all of which were desirable for saddle-horses4 ,breeds of animals deteriorate rapidly through lack of nourishment and from in-and-in breeding4 ,it is questionable whether a degenerate race may be restored1 within measurable time1 by the use of any appreciable amount of its own blood2 it is certainly bad policy to found a breed upon poor stock4 ,the better plan would be to form the desired type from new strains4 ,one hundred years ago ,lewis and ,clark found upon the plains of the ,northwest horses of an excellent race1 lofty1 elegantly formed1 and durable1 but one could hardly hope to replace such animals from the cayuse ponies1 their descendants1 without the introduction of superior blood in such quantities as practically to obliterate the inferior4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #f4--,,norwegian ,,fiord ,,stallion ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #g4--;,,heavy-,,weight ,,hunter ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #h4--;,,charger ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #i4--,,morgan ,,stallion ,some of the range horses of ,washington and of ,oregon are fairly good animals1 and these have more or less of the bronco blood1 but all that can be said of the influence of the wild horse is that its descendants can rustle for a living where an ,eastern horse would starve1 and the same thing can be said of the donkey4 ,admitting that for certain purposes inferior blood must sometimes be introduced for domestic purposes1 the better the breeding the better the horse will be4 ,bon sang bon chien4 ,the mustang of the southern central plains maintains many of the good qualities of its ,spanish ancestors1 and is a valuable horse for certain purposes1 but we need not consider this animal in breeding for the saddle when we have so many other strains infinitely superior4 ,polo and cow ponies are not within our intent4 ,types and families of horses are produced either by careful selection and exclusion1 or by the chances of environment ,in the first manner was brought about the thoroughbred1 the ,percheron1 the ,orloff1 the ,trakhene1 the ,denmark1 and every other race or family of real value4 ,all over the world isolated groups of horses may be found which have become types by an accidental seclusion1 and these from various causes are usually undersized and often ill-formed4 ,such are the mustang and its cousins on the plains1 many breeds in ,eastern ,asia1 the ,norwegian ,fiord pony1 the ,icelander1 the ,shetlander1 etc41 the last-named three being1 it is supposed1 degenerates of pure desert descent from animals taken north from ,constantinople by the returned ,varangians in the eleventh century4 ,in breeding for the saddle1 or for any other purpose1 the mare should be nearly of the type the breeder desires to obtain1 and she should be of strong frame1 perfectly sound1 of healthy stock1 and with a good disposition4 ,if her pedigree be known1 the stallion1 well-bred or thoroughbred1 should be selected from a strain which has been proved to have an affinity with that of the mare4 ,the mingling of certain strains is almost as certain to produce certain results--not1 be it understood1 everything that may be desired--as does the mixing of chosen colors on the palette4 ,that is to say1 size1 form1 action1 and disposition may ordinarily be foretold by the mating between families that are known to nick4 ,the stallion should be no larger than the mare1 of a family in which there is no suspicion of transmissible disease1 and of good temper1 and it certainly should not be lacking in the slightest degree in any point where the mare is not fully developed4 ,the mare might be the stronger animal1 the stallion the more highly finished4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #aj4--,,trakhene ,,stallion ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #aa4--,,typical ,,denmark ,,stallion ,where the mare's pedigree is unknown1 and the matter is purely an experiment1 or where she is undoubtedly of base breeding1 the stallion1 while of superior blood1 should not vary greatly from her type4 ,peculiarities in either parent are almost certain to be found in an exaggerated form in the foal4 ,it would be difficult to imagine a better horse1 for any conceivable purpose except racing1 than a first-rate heavy-weight hunter2 yet he may be called an accident1 as there is no such breed1 and his full brother may be relegated to the coach or even to the plough4 ,the large head and convex face almost invariably found in the weight carrier1 and in the high-jumper1 are derived from the coarse blood which gives them size and power2 but these features are indications of that courage and resolution which give them value--characteristics which in animals of wholly cold blood are usually exhibited in obstinacy4 ,indeed1 while the ,english horse1 each in its class1 has no superior1 ,great ,britain has no type or family of saddle animals such as our ,denmark1 unless one except cobs and ponies4 ,of course1 where two animals of the same or of similar strains1 and bearing a close resemblance to each other1 are mated1 the type will be reproduced with much greater certainty than where various strains are for the first time brought together2 but even in good matches a foal may show some undesirable feature derived from a remote ancestor4 ,some marks or characteristics of a progenitor reappear at almost incredible distances from their sources4 ,that ,boston's progeny should be subject to blindness1 or that ,cruiser's descendants should be vicious1 or that the offspring of whistlers should prove defective in their wind1 are reasonable expectations2 but that the black spots on the haunches of ,eclipse should be repeated upon his descendants of our day1 as is doubtless the case1 exhibits an influence that is marvellous4 ,stockwell 7#ahdi7 and many others of ,eclipse's descendants had those ancestral marks1 but ,stockwell had many strains of ,eclipse blood through ,waxy1 ,gohanna1 and other progenitors4 ,when a chestnut thoroughbred shows white hairs through its coat1 that peculiarity is ascribed to ,venison 7#ahcc7 blood1 if by chance that stallion's name may be found in its pedigree4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ab4--;,,brood-,,mare ,,of ,,saddle ,,strains ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ac4--;,,cecil ,,palmer ,,racking ,where undesirable qualities appear in the products of crosses in breeding for a type1 they are bred out in breeding up1 or the failures are permitted to die out4 ,it is not probable that any one who was desirous of breeding a horse suitable for the saddle would select a very inferior mare1 for1 even though her pedigree were unknown1 the qualities which suggested her selection would prove her something better4 ,it cannot be denied that occasionally a literal half-breed1 by a thoroughbred on common stock1 turns out a good animal1 and such a cross is often the foundation of valuable types2 but the chances are too remote to induce one to try the experiment solely for the produce of the first cross4 ,it is rarely the case that a horse may be found in a gentleman's stable that has not either a liberal1 direct infusion of thoroughbred strains1 or is not itself a representative of some family which owes its distinction to the blood-horse4 ,i am schooling a pretty little mare1 picked up by chance1 for the illustrations of the chapters on riding and training4 ,i believe that ,daphne is out of a ,morgan mare by a ,hambletonian stallion1 and that her symmetry comes from the dam4 ,it is greatly to be regretted that the so-called ,morgans have been so neglected that it is not easy to find horses with enough of the blood to entitle them to bear the family name4 ,the ,morgan1 although rather a small horse1 was an admirable animal1 good in build1 in constitution1 in action1 and in temperament1 and its blood combined well with that of the old ,canadian pacing stock 7of which the original ,copperbottom was an example71 with ,messenger strains1 and with those of some other trotting families4 ,at the ,trakhene stud in ,germany a distinct breed has been obtained by the admixture of thoroughbred and ,eastern blood4 ,how long it took and how many crosses were made to establish the type ,i cannot say1 but it is understood that in the first crosses the stallions were of ,english blood1 the mares of desert strains4 ,these ,trakhene horses1 usually black or chestnut1 are very beautiful animals--large1 symmetrical1 and of proud bearing4 ,they are sometimes used as chargers by the ,german emperor and his officers1 and in this country they are somewhat familiar as liberty horses in the circus ring4 ,it is said that the ,trakhene is not clever upon his feet and that he is not safe in easy paces1 which is likely enough1 for both the blood-horse and the ,arab are stumblers in the walk and in the trot4 ,in the province of ,ontario1 ,canada1 and in the states of ,maine and ,new ,york1 very fine horses are bred for various purposes2 and from among these are found good hacks and the animals best suited to the hunting-field that ,america affords4 ,these ,northern horses have good constitutions and1 it is thought1 better feet than those found beyond the ,alleghanies1 and the best examples fill the demands of the most critical horseman2 but in none of the ,northern states can it be said that a breed or family exists that produces a type of hack or hunter1 while in the ,blue ,grass region south of the ,ohio we find the ,denmarks splendidly developed in every point and with a natural grace and elasticity that make them most desirable for the saddle4 ,for quite a century the riding-horses of ,kentucky have been celebrated in song and story4 ,in the days when bridle-paths were the chief means of intercommunication throughout this state1 the pioneer made his journeys as easy as possible by selecting and by breeding saddle-horses with smooth gaits1 the rack and the running walk4 ,these movements had been known in the far ,east and in ,latin countries from time immemorial1 but it remained for the ,kentuckian to perfect them4 ,some fifty odd years since a stallion called ,denmark was introduced into ,kentucky1 and from him there has descended a type of saddle-horse which is everywhere held in esteem1 for the ,denmark horse of to-day has no superior for beauty of form1 for docility1 for graceful movements and1 indeed1 for every good quality which should be found in a riding animal4 ,denmark had been successful on the race-course2 he was by imported ,hedgeford1 and if it be true that there was a stain upon the lineage of his dam1 there had been a very successful cross1 for the great majority of the saddle-horses of ,kentucky boast ,denmark as an ancestor4 ,more than nine-tenths of this family trace to the founder's son1 ,gaines's ,denmark1 whose dam was by ,cockspur1 and1 probably1 out of a pacing mare4 ,the ,american ,saddle-horse ,breeders' ,association has undertaken to improve the riding-horses of this country by the formation of a register and by the selection of foundation stallions whose progeny under certain conditions shall be eligible for registry4 ,their primary object is to encourage the breeding of the gaited saddle-horse1 that is1 the animal which1 from inherited instincts or natural adaptability1 may readily be taught to rack1 to pace1 to go in the running walk and in the fox-trot2 but at the same time ,general ,castleman1 ,colonel ,nall1 and the other gentlemen engaged with them1 are exercising great influence for good upon the horse of the three simpler gaits4 ,the pedigrees of the foundation sires of this register show many strains of the blood of ,saltram and of ,diomed1 a fair share of that of the ,canadian pacer1 and enough1 doubtless1 of that of the ,morgan4 ,a fabric woven of such threads must prove of national importance2 for1 although the registry is open to all horses which can show five saddle-gaits1 it should be remembered that such an exhibition is almost a certain proof of the desired breeding and is a certain proof of quality4 ,we may1 then1 hope for a typical ,american saddle-horse1--a race that shall have no superior1 representatives of which shall be found wherever the horse flourishes4 ,i am no advocate for any paces other than the walk1 the trot1 and the gallop1 these being the only movements in which the rider can obtain immediate and precise control over the actions of the horse4 ,the riding-horse must be managed by reins and heels2 no motions or signs are so exacting1 so unmistakable in their demands1 and it is impossible readily to obtain movements from a horse that is confused by eight or even five gaits1 particularly when some of these gaits require an extension of the animal's forces incompatible with the union required in quick turns and in immediate obedience4 ,it must1 however1 be acknowledged that the rack1 the running walk1 and the fox-trot have had a beneficial influence upon the ,kentucky saddle-horse4 ,in the first place1 these paces required selection in the breeding1 and1 secondly1 the discipline implied by the training1 through many generations1 has had its effect upon the tempers and dispositions of these splendid animals4 ,a brood mare should always be well nourished1 but not over fed1 and1 from the time it is able to eat1 the foal should have its share of oats as well as of succulent1 nutritious grasses1 and of sound hay when grazing is impracticable4 ,our cavalry officers1 and horsemen in general1 bear testimony to the endurance of animals bred in ,kentucky4 ,this vigor is due to the rich blue-grass pastures and to the liberal feeding of the mare and her offspring4 ,it would appear1 upon first viewing the subject1 that a horse bred upon rough pasture-land would be more sure of foot than one bred on smooth plains2 but that is not always the case4 ,it is true that the animal bred on uneven ground learns to look after itself1 and becomes very clever on its feet when obstacles exist1 but mountain-bred horses are often stumblers on level roads1 in the walk and in the trot4 ,the fact is1 that sureness of foot depends upon the manner in which the horse extends and plants its feet1 moderate action being the safest1 either extremes of high or low action1 of short or long strides1 militating against the animal's agility4 ,the reason that horses stumble ten times in the walk to once in the trot is because in the first-named pace the pointed toe is usually carried along close to the ground before the fore foot is planted4 ,when the rider unites the horse1 this defective action is obviated4 ,during the past twenty years ,i have taken thousands of photographs of the moving horse in studying the question of action1 and ,i am satisfied that the horse which plants its fore foot with the front of the hoof vertical will stumble2 that the horse which straightens its joints and brings the heel to the ground first will travel insecurely and slip on greasy surfaces4 ,i had an example of the last-named in my stable1 and the animal several times turned turtle1 as ,i might have anticipated4 ,fair action1 with fairly bent joints which bring the feet about flat to the ground1 the hind legs well under the mass1 is the safest form in which the horse moves4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,handling ,,the ,,young ,,horse ,before the horse can be taught obedience to the bit and spur it must go through a preliminary course of handling1 by which the man obtains mastery over the animal4 ,this work is usually called breaking-in1 and it is a matter of regret that it is almost always conducted in an unnecessarily harsh and rough manner1 with the result that many horses are made vicious1 or are in other ways spoiled1 through the ignorance and cruelty of those who have charge of their early education4 ,a lively colt is shy1 suspicious1 and curious1 easily amused1 and as easily bored2 by recognizing these characteristics and conducting his work with reference to them1 the trainer will find success easy and agreeable4 ,after the man has gained the confidence of the animal1 he will find that the young horse takes great interest in lessons that are varied and not too long continued1 and there need be no resistances aroused on the part of the pupil4 ,except in the very rare cases of animals that are naturally vicious1 and such are insane1 the training of a horse may be carried on without friction4 ,the faults and vices in a horse usually arise from the efforts of the nervous animal to avoid injudicious restraints before it has been taught by easy steps to yield instinctively to the demands of its trainer4 ,later misconduct is almost always due to want of firmness and decisive action on the part of the rider4 ,the horse is incapable of that real affection for man such as the dog evinces toward the worst of masters2 it is of low intelligence1 the boldest of them being subject to panics1 but there are few which lack a low craft that enables them to take advantage of every slip or mistake the man may make4 ,a sufficient amount of work and careful treatment will keep a sane horse steady1 but when at all fresh most horses are untrustworthy if the man's control be lost4 ,i do not find it necessary to punish my horses2 the whip1 spur1 and reins are employed to convey demands2 a harsh word answers every requirement for correction1 and the animal cannot resent it as it may the blows of the whip or the stroke of the spur4 ,the photographs of a number of these animals in my various works in almost every possible movement prove how exact is the obedience they render under this course of treatment4 ,when some old favorite refuses to walk into a coal-pit1 or voluntarily turns up some well-known road1 the fond owner is too apt to confuse instinct or habit with brilliant mental operations1 and place too much faith in its good inclinations2 but the fact is that in handling this animal we must neglect its will and obtain control over its movement by cultivating the instinctive muscular actions which follow the application of the hand and heel4 ,i have a great admiration for the horse1 for its beauty1 for its usefulness1 for its many excellent qualities1 but ,i do not permit this sentiment to blind me to its shortcomings4 ,some horses are so good that they inspire an affection which they cannot reciprocate4 ,since ,i began this book ,i lost ,silvana1 a well-bred ,english mare which ,i had owned for eighteen years4 ,she was a very beautiful animal1 of high spirit1 exact in all the movements of the mange1 and of so kind a disposition that she was never guilty of mutinous or disorderly conduct4 ,regardless of the treatment it has received previously1 the young horse should be broken to ride1 when strong enough to bear the weight of a rider1 by some method similar to that which follows4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ad4--,,the ,,cavesson ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ae4--,,longeing ,,on ,,the ,,cavesson ,but first ,i wish to say a word about casting the horse1 by what is usually called ,the ,rarey ,system4 ,many people believe that to throw the horse is a sure cure for every vice and spirit of resistance4 ,the fact is that a horse is confused1 surprised1 and humiliated at finding itself helpless1 and casting does give the man temporary control which is often a most important matter1 and may be the beginning of the establishment of discipline2 but mastering the horse permanently cannot be accomplished in a moment1 and unless it be necessary to employ the straps in the handling of a violent animal ,i should advise against it4 ,vices1 faults1 and tricks may be remedied only by careful training4 ,i teach many of my horses to lie down1 but1 as ,i shall explain later1 ,i do not employ any straps or apparatus4 ,the first step in breaking-in is to give some lessons on the cavesson4 ,this is a head-collar with a metal nose-band1 upon the front and each side of which are stout rings4 ,to the front ring a leather longe line fifteen feet long will be fastened1 and from the side rings straps will be buckled to the girth or surcingle at such lengths as will prevent the horse extending its nose so that the face is much beyond the perpendicular4 ,the horse thus fitted should be led to some retired spot where there is level ground enough for a circle of about forty feet4 ,at first the man1 walking at the shoulder of the horse1 should lead it on the circumference of the circle1 to the right and to the left1 taking a short hold of the longe line and being careful that the animal does not get so far ahead of him as to have a straight pull forward which may drag him from his feet4 ,from time to time the man will bring the horse to a halt1 and require it to stand quite still1 making much of it by caresses and kind words1 picking up the feet and stroking it gently with the whiphandle all over its body and legs1 so that it will not be alarmed at his future motions1 and then continuing the progress on the circle4 ,gradually the length of the hold on the longe line will be increased1 until the horse goes about the man at the full length of the strap4 ,in these exercises1 also1 the horse should frequently be brought to a stop1 always on the circumference of the circle1 and it should be worked equally to either hand4 ,the lessons should be given twice every day1 at first for about fifteen minutes each1 and increasing the time until a lesson shall be of three-quarters of an hour's duration4 ,colored rugs1 wheelbarrows1 open umbrellas1 paper1 and other similar objects at which a horse might shy should be placed near the path until the horse is so accustomed to them that it will take no notice4 ,under no circumstances should the horse be punished1 and the man should exercise great care that he does nothing to make the animal fear him4 ,when the horse will go quietly about the man in the walk and in the very slow trot 7it should never be permitted to go rapidly71 the surcingle may be replaced by the saddle1 lightly girthed and the stirrups looped up1 the side-lines of the cavesson being removed4 ,then1 at the end of each lesson on the cavesson1 that instrument should be replaced by a light snaffle-bridle4 ,the man1 facing the head of the horse1 should take a snaffle-rein in each hand and make gentle vibrations toward its chest1 so that he will give the bit a light feeling on the bars of the mouth4 ,occasionally he will elevate the head of the horse by extending his arms upward to their full length1 then gently bring the head of the horse to a natural height1 or to that height which he judges will be the best in which the trained horse should carry it1 drawing the reins toward the animal's chest until its face is perpendicular1 and no farther1 and playing with the bit in light vibrations until the horse takes up the play and gives a supple jaw4 ,he will also bend the head of the horse to the right and to the left1 the face vertical1 and bring it back to the proper position by the reins1 not accepting any voluntary movement from the horse1 and endeavoring to obtain always an elastic resistance from its mouth4 ,the head of the horse will also be depressed by the snaffle-reins1 until it nearly touches the ground1 and then be lifted to the natural height4 ,all of these movements are of high importance1 and all of them tend to develop the muscles of the neck and chest2 but the elevation of the head and its return to the right height1 face vertical1 jaw supple1 but not flaccid1 produces the best results in bitting and should be more frequently practised than the others4 ,if1 in these lessons1 the horse draws back1 it must be made to come to the man2 no good results can be obtained from a retreating animal4 ,upon some occasion1 after the longeing and bitting lesson has been given1 when there is no high wind to irritate the horse and the animal seems to be composed1 the man should have a leg up and quietly drop into the saddle1 having first taken a lock of mane in his left hand and with the right1 in which the reins should be1 grasping the pommel1 thumb under the throat of the pommel4 ,he should then let the horse walk off for a few steps1 having a very slight tension upon the reins1 and quietly dismount4 ,if1 as is very unlikely1 for the horse will be taken by surprise1 though not frightened1 the animal makes a jump or a plunge1 the rider must maintain his seat1 keep up the head of the horse1 and dismount when the animal has become quiet4 ,the horse will not rear at this stage2 that is an accomplishment it learns from bad hands1 and it is probable that it will be perfectly quiet4 ,each day the riding lesson will be lengthened1 and the rider will gradually obtain some control over its movements by the reins and accustom it to bear the pressure of his legs against its sides4 ,the longeing will now be employed to give such exercise as is needed to keep the animal from being too fresh2 and when the riding lessons give sufficient work1 the longe may be dispensed with1 to be resumed if the horse falls into bad habits4 ,but the bitting exercises1 previously described1 should be occasionally reverted to as long as the horse is used under the saddle4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #af4--;,,elevation ,,of ,,the ,,head ,,with ,,snaffle ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ag4--;,,dropping ,,head ,,and ,,suppling ,,jaw ,but one more thing is necessary before the horse is ready for the higher training which will be described later1 and this desideratum is to confirm the horse in the habit of facing the bit1 that is1 to go forward against a light tension upon the reins2 for without this the rider will have little or no government over its movements1 as the bit must have some resistance1 slight though it should be1 upon which to enforce his demands4 ,whenever a rider finds that his hand has nothing to work against1 that the horse has loosened its hold on the bit and refuses to face it1 he may be almost certain that he has an old offender to manage and that mischief is meant1 and will follow unless he can force the horse up into the bridle4 ,the horse may best be taught to face the bit in a slow but brisk trot4 ,the animal must not be started off too abruptly1 but the forward movement should begin in a walk2 and this is a rule that should always be followed1 even though it be for a few steps1 unless some good reason for doing otherwise exists4 ,the impulse for the trot and its continuance may be induced by a pressure of the rider's legs against the sides of the horse1 or by light taps of the whip delivered just back of the girths4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ah4--;,,bending ,,head ,,with ,,snaffle ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ai4--;,a ,,leg ,,up ,in a measured1 regular trot the horse should be ridden in straight lines1 and in circles1 first of large1 and afterward of decreased1 diameters1 the pace being maintained by demanding impulses from the hind quarters1 the hand taking a light but steady tension upon the reins4 ,no effort will be made to induce the horse to pull against the hand1 but the man should endeavor to get just that resistance by which he may direct the animal4 ,it does not really matter if the jaw of the horse does get a little rigid2 that can be softened by the bitting exercises and by future lessons1 but the horse must go into the bridle4 ,in turning to either hand the inside rein will direct the movement1 the outer rein measuring and controlling the effect of the other2 the outside leg of the rider will make an increased pressure as the turn is being made to keep the croup of the horse on the path taken by the forehand4 ,on approaching the turn the horse will be slightly collected between hand and heel1 and as soon as the horse enters upon the new direction it will be put straight and the aids will act as before4 ,to bring it to a halt1 the legs of the rider will close against the sides of the horse2 he will then lean back slightly and raise his hand until the horse comes to a walk1 and in the same manner he will bring it to a stop4 ,the hand will then release the tension upon the reins and the legs be withdrawn from the sides of the horse4 ,to go forward1 the rider will first close his legs against the sides of the horse and meet the impulses so procured by such a tension upon the reins as will induce the horse to go forward in a walk4 ,so1 to demand the trot1 the increased impulses will first be demanded from the croup1 to be met and measured by the hand4 ,it is an invariable rule1 at this stage and in every stage1 that in going forward1 backward1 or to either side1 the rider's legs will act before the hand to procure the desired impulses4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,the ,,purchase1 ,,the ,,care1 ,,and ,,the ,,sale ,,of ,,the ,,saddle-,,horse ,whether it has been procured by rapine1 purchase1 gift1 or devise1 the owner of a really good saddle-horse has something from which he may derive much pleasure and satisfaction4 ,nor is such an animal so rare as the late ,edmund ,tattersall suggested1 when he gave it as his opinion that a man might have one good horse in his lifetime1 but certainly no more4 ,almost any horse of good temper1 safe action1 and sufficient strength may be made pleasant to ride4 ,alidor was a small cart-horse1 low at the shoulder1 with a rigid jaw and a coarse head1 but he became a charming hack1 and ,i employed him for the photographs of the first edition of ,modern ,horsemanship4 ,i bought him as a three-year-old1 as an experiment2 and when he was four the breeder came to see him and gave me a written statement that1 so great were the changes made in appearance and action by the calisthenics of his education1 the animal could hardly be recognized4 ,of course a man on the lookout for a horse will make an offer for a desirable animal wherever it may be found1 but the most satisfactory mode of procedure is to go to some reputable dealer4 ,i have bought horses from dealers in many parts of this country and in ,england1 ,france1 ,germany1 and other parts of ,europe1 and ,i have found them desirous of pleasing and as honest as their neighbors4 ,i once bought a little horse from a trader in ,frankfort-on-the-,main1 who told me that ,i was getting a good bargain1 and that in case ,i ever wished to dispose of it he would like to have a refusal4 ,when ,i was ready to sell1 ,i sent word to the dealer that a friend had offered me a fair advance over the price ,i had paid1 and to my surprise he appeared and without remonstrance gave me the amount my friend had named4 ,i need hardly say the horse was a good one1 so ,i had been well treated all round4 ,much of the friction between purchaser and dealer is usually due to the manner in which the former conducts his part of the bargain4 ,it is not agreeable to a fair-minded man to be approached as though he were a swindler1 to be offered one-half of the price he has set on his property1 and then perhaps to have a sound horse returned because the buyer did not know what he wanted4 ,i do not wish to be understood as saying that all dealers are honest2 ,i have seen too many who would not go straight2 but it is reasonable to suppose that most men in a large way of business1 who have reputations for honest dealings to maintain1 will do right by a customer4 ,it is a mistake for an ignorant purchaser to take a knowing friend with him for protection2 this will1 in the eyes of the dealer1 relieve him in a great measure of responsibility4 ,if the friend is really a good judge1 it is far better to let him act alone1 when he will be considered a client and not an interloper trying to crab a sale1 and therefore free to deceive himself and his companion4 ,some dealers will not give a warranty of soundness1 and a warranty is too often the cause of disputes and of actions at law to make it advisable either to give or to demand one4 ,a veterinary examination and a short trial must suffice4 ,sometimes the seller requires that the trial shall take place from his yards1 to avoid the risk of injury to valuable animals and that blackmail so commonly levied by head grooms and stablemen4 ,in cases where the dealer objected to sending his horse to another's stables1 the author has been in the habit of offering a fair sum of money for the privilege1 the amount to go on the price of the horse should the sale be effected2 and this proposal has usually been acceptable4 ,where a trial has been allowed1 or even where the purchase has been made1 if an indifferent horseman1 recognizing his deficiencies1 wishes to assure himself of the wisdom of the step he is taking1 let him place a cold saddle upon the horse when it is fresh1 and immediately mount and go upon the road4 ,if the animal does not buck or shy1 and goes fairly well1 albeit a little gay1 it is a prize not to be disdained4 ,many horses1 even with stall courage1 will go quietly if the saddle be warmed by half an hour's contact with their backs1 but will plunge or buck if the rider mounts a saddle freshly girthed4 ,if a fresh horse will stand the ordeal of a cold panel1 it will not be apt to misbehave under other trials4 ,of course the confident rider will make his essay as soon as the horse comes into his possession1 and if the new purchase does not come up to his expectations1 he will hope that his skill may remedy the faults he discovers4 ,to go to the breeder implies a journey1 to find often only young horses that are not thoroughly trained and almost always unused to the sights and sounds of traffic1 many of which are fearsome to a country-bred horse4 ,on the other hand1 on such a visit1 the prospective purchaser has a better opportunity of examining the animals offered for sale1 and from a knowledge of the pedigrees and an examination of the progenitors he will be able to form some idea of what may be expected in the way of temperament and development2 and it will be a satisfaction to have a fixed price1 although it may not be a low one4 ,some of the breeders in ,kentucky1 ,illinois1 and ,missouri1 and perhaps in other parts of the country1 do not send their stock to market until the animals are thoroughly and admirably trained2 and for a man who purposes making his own horse1 nothing better could be found than one of the highly bred youngsters from the ,blue ,grass region4 ,in the following chapter a few of the stock farms devoted to the breeding of high-class saddle-horses are described4 ,there remains1 as sources of supply1 the auction1 the friend who has a good horse which he is willing to dispose of1 and the stable of the gentleman who is breaking up his establishment previously to a ,european trip4 ,it has now become a custom to send very valuable high-class horses to the auction block1 and if a man is looking for something that has already proved its superiority in the show-ring1 he may often find it his property by nodding to the auctioneer4 ,but1 aside from the fact that such an animal has probably reached its climax1 and that the same experienced care is demanded to maintain its condition1 it is not advisable for a man to purchase such a horse except for exhibition purposes4 ,in the hands of a poor or even of a moderately good horseman1 the animal will rapidly deteriorate1 for it will be trained beyond his skill2 and no rider who wishes to have a comfortable mount should acquire a horse that has had an education beyond the stage of being really quiet to ride1 for he may then bring the animal up to his requirements1 whatever may be the measure of his dexterity4 ,as for the inferior grades of horses offered under the hammer1 it is better to leave them to experts4 ,neither the horse of a friend1 nor that offered by the coper who hires a private stable from which to entrap the unwary1 is to be recommended4 ,such dealings bring sorrow4 ,the ,ideal ,saddle-horse6 ,any man with a trained eye and ear should be able to recognize it among a herd of others4 ,its satin robe should be of a chestnut1 bay1 or brown color1 with a silver star on the forehead4 ,it should have a fine1 thin mane1 and a tail just heavy enough to set off the haunches4 ,it should be of a stature of no more than #ae hands at the withers1 never more than an inch less than that height2 of symmetrical form1--if anything appears to be wrong1 it is wrong1--with a broad1 flat forehead1 a face neither concave nor convex1 a small muzzle with nostrils that can dilate until they show the fire within1 while soft hazel eyes beam forth brightly and kindly4 ,its pointed ears1 beautiful in form1 are set far apart1 and by their motions express the moods of the vivacious animal4 ,the legs1 well muscled above1 clean and hard below the knees1 are truly placed under the mass1 the drivers capable of propelling the weight of horse and man with vigor1--the fore legs giving no suggestion that the body is leaning forward1 the hind legs having no appearance of buttressing up the body4 ,the crest is marked1 but not too strongly1 and the muscles below it play like shadows as the animal proudly arches its tapering neck1 which buries itself in broadly divergent jaws4 ,the shoulder slopes rearward in such a manner as to make the back seem shorter than it really is1 while the gentle dip of the saddle-place invites one to mount4 ,its ability to speed under weight is evidenced by a deep1 broad chest1 its muscular thighs1 its well covered limbs1 and the strong spine which ends in a dock fairly carried from a nearly level croup4 ,the hoofs are of exactly the right size1 the slope conforming to that of the springy pasterns1 pointing straight forward1 and with level bearings4 ,its paces should be smooth1 even1 and regular1 four rhythmic beats in the walk1 three in the controlled gallop1 two in the trot1 while the action should only be high enough for safe and graceful movements1 the stride not long enough to affect the animal's agility4 ,the temper should be bold1 be bold but not too bold1 unaccustomed objects arousing the horse's curiosity rather than its fears1 while this mettle is dominated by the rider's hand as it ever finds just that tension upon the reins that it would meet in bending the end of a willow branch4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bj4--,,silvana ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ba4--,,montgomery ,,chief ,while skill in horsemanship and the possession of a good horse are to be highly considered1 all the pleasures of riding are not confined to the expert with his splendid mount4 ,many men who are never able to attain even tolerable proficiency in the art get a great amount of recreation and satisfaction in the exercise4 ,the author has a friend who1 late in life1 and when his figure had developed beyond the stage where a secure seat might be practicable1 was accustomed to place himself on the back of a quiet pacing-mare1 in one of those saddles with a towering horn on the pommel and a fair-sized parapet on the cantle4 ,thus equipped1 he passed many happy hours in going wherever the steady but headstrong ,belle was inclined4 ,when the mare brought forth some three-cornered progeny from registered sires1 her owner's delight was unbounded1 for he was then a breeder as well as a horseman4 ,no estimate can be made of the real value of a riding-horse1 or what a horse for a specific purpose should cost2 these depend on the man and the horse4 ,a really satisfactory1 confidential animal is worth whatever the man feels that he is able to pay1 even to half his realm4 ,a horse that costs no more than a hundred dollars at four or five years old may be made by care and training of great intrinsic value2 while other animals1 whose beauty and striking action have sold them for thousands of dollars1 may be dear at any price4 ,a good horse should bring a fair price1 but the purchaser should be certain that he is paying for the horse1 and not for the privilege of seeing it well ridden by an expert4 ,except where horses are bred in such numbers that the cost of the keep of each is much reduced1 there will be very little change coming to the breeder out of the few hundred dollars that he gets for a four-year-old of some quality4 ,the exceptional colt which brings an exceptional price puts up the average of profit1 but it is to the dealer that the long price usually goes4 ,when one sees the wretched cabins1 called boxes1 hot in summer1 draughty in winter1 in which horses are kept on many of the breeding farms1 and even on some of the race-courses1 it is a matter of wonder that health and condition of the stock can be maintained under such circumstances4 ,exposure to the inclemency of the weather1 however1 is better than the pampering which city horses usually find in close and overheated stables4 ,the stable should be reasonably warm in winter and as cool in summer as may be1 thoroughly ventilated1 without draughts1 and with good drainage4 ,the light should be admitted from the rear of the stalls2 certainly a horse should not stand facing a near window on a level with its head4 ,a gangway should be in the front of the stalls as well as in the rear1 and the horse should be fed through an opening about sixteen inches wide in the front of the stall4 ,this narrow opening will be beneficial to the sight of the horse1 and the animal cannot fight its neighbors4 ,for more than half a century the home stable of the author has had such an arrangement1 which proved perfectly satisfactory4 ,in that stable there were two rows of stalls facing a middle gangway4 ,except for sick or weary horses1 the stall is better than the loose box2 in the former1 stable discipline is better kept up4 ,in a loose box an idle horse is apt to become too playful1 and horse-play too often degenerates into something worse1 such as biting and kicking4 ,the floor of the stable should be of hard bricks1 or of some combination of asphalt4 ,the drainage should be to the rear of the stalls1 with a very slight slope4 ,if the drains are made under the horse1 the slopes are multiplied and the inclines are greater than in the length of the stalls4 ,always the horse should have an abundance of dry straw1 and for the night this should be renewed or rearranged1 so that the animal shall have a soft1 dry bed4 ,the food should be varied1 the quantity depending upon the size of the horse1 the work demanded of it1 and its appetite and digestion4 ,for a horse #ae hands high1 the size in which agility and sufficient strength are usually found1 ten to twelve pounds of oats and the same quantity of hay should be given daily in three portions1 when in hard work4 ,when the horse is merely exercised1 four or five pounds of oats and six pounds of hay will be sufficient4 ,when it is found that a horse does not clean out its manger1 the feed should be reduced4 ,in addition to the oats and hay1 the horse should have a few carrots two or three times a week1 occasionally an apple1 and a steamed mash of bran and crushed oats about once a week1 as an aperient1 given preferably on the eve of some day of rest4 ,during the spring and summer the animal should have a handful of fresh grass1 not clover1 every day2 but not more than a good handful1 for a larger quantity might bring on some intestinal trouble1 whereas the titbit is greatly appreciated and is highly beneficial4 ,these dainties will be received with a good grace from the master and will encourage friendly relations between horse and man4 ,salt should be given in very small quantities two or three times a week1 and the horse should have a frequent supply of pure1 unchilled water1 given some time before meals2 if it is offered four or five times a day1 it will not be too often4 ,the horse should be out of the stable1 except in very inclement weather1 for at least two hours every day2 eight hours of slow work1 with a halt for rest and refreshment after the first three hours1 is not too much for a horse in good condition4 ,during the ,civil ,war1 ,general ,john ,morgan1 after two weeks of severe campaigning1 marched his cavalry command1 without dismounting1 a distance of ninety-four miles in about thirty-five hours4 ,many of the horses of ,kentucky breeding performed this work without flinching1 and were called upon to do further duty without respite4 ,notwithstanding the vigor with which ,general ,morgan conducted this raid into ,ohio1 he was overtaken by ,general ,hobson after twenty-one days of hard marching1 in which a distance of about seven hundred and fifty miles was covered4 ,on a previous occasion ,general ,morgan marched his cavalry ninety miles in about twenty-five hours4 ,under somewhat similar circumstances the exigencies of the service have on occasion required the author to remain in the saddle1 with but momentary dismounting1 if any1 for from sixteen to eighteen hours1 sometimes riding at the gallop1 and the horse1 a thoroughbred by ,albion1 never exhibited distress4 ,nor will he ever forget that1 on the first day of ,january1 #ahfc1 he rode a little mustang from daylight until midnight1 without leaving the saddle1 except when the horse fell1 twice upon a frosty hillside and once on a bit of corduroy road4 ,but such demands upon the endurance of a horse1 and1 if ,i may say it1 of the man1 are not unusual in active military service4 ,a horse should never be struck or otherwise punished in the stable1 and the first exhibition of cruelty on the part of the groom should be the cause of his dismissal4 ,the currycomb should be used only for cleaning the brush1 and never should be applied to the skin of the horse2 but so great is the temptation to use it on a mud-covered animal that it is better to abolish the instrument4 ,a whalebone mud brush1 a strong straw brush1 a smoothing brush1 a soft cotton cloth1 and several good sponges1 together with some wisps of clean straw1 should be the only articles of the toilet4 ,the face and nostrils1 the dock1 and other hairless parts of the horse should be washed daily2 but1 except to cleanse sores or for wet bandages1 water should never be put upon the legs of the horse4 ,tight bandages are permissible only when applied by a skilled groom1 or under the orders of a veterinary surgeon4 ,massage1 rubbing the legs of the horse with the hand downward1 should take the place of bandages except when support is really needed1 and then the advice of the professional should be called4 ,when a horse comes in from a hard day's work1 covered with mud1 dry serge bandages may be loosely put on the legs while the other parts of the body are receiving the services of the rubber4 ,by the time that the body of the horse is clean the mud upon the legs will have dried1 and1 the bandages being removed1 the dirt may easily be brushed out1 a good hand-rubbing following4 ,the hoofs should then be cleaned out and washed1 and the horse be placed in its stall knee-deep in straw4 ,should a horse be brought in late and really done up by its work1 it will be better to give it a pail of warm gruel1 rub dry the saddle-place1 and turn it into a warm box-stall at once1 without annoying it with the brushing and handling that would be necessary to clean it thoroughly4 ,no weary horse1 no matter how dirty it may be1 has ever been the worse for a few hours of complete rest under such circumstances1 for the quiet will be of far more importance than the dressing4 ,but this course should be followed only under the directions of the master1 who should always see that his overworked horses get the attention they require1 if he does not superintend the general stable work from time to time as he should4 ,when the hairs of the tail require cleaning1 it is well to use plenty of unchilled water1 pretty well saturated with salt1 washing the dock also with the solution2 and this should be used whenever the horse shows a disposition to rub its tail against the side of the stall ,the horse should be dressed in some covered place that is shut off from the stalls2 and the owner should1 occasionally at least1 look in on his horses when they are being dressed and at feeding time2 and should he find that he is not master of his own stables1 he should change his groom or give over keeping horses4 ,this page is being written while the thermometer is playing about zero and a cold north wind is blustering round the corners of the house1 which state of affairs suggests that1 when it can be afforded1 it is expedient to have a covered ride in which horses may be exercised and trained in stormy weather4 ,an area #ce feet by #gj feet is quite large enough for twelve or more horses1 and the many turns and bends required by the limited space will improve the horses therein exercised in every particular4 ,then the otherwise weary days of winter may be made enjoyable to the horseman by musical rides1 for many pretty and intricate figures may be formed by ten or twelve riders4 ,my riding-house is #bh feet by #fj1 and it is quite large enough for my purposes1 as ,i always work my horses singly and without an attendant4 ,in ,london ,i saw ,corradini training a mange horse in the gangway of a stable1 behind a row of stalls2 he had a space of about #h feet by #cj4 ,i believe that the horse was never galloped until it was ridden in public in the circus ring1 but the schooling it had received made it fit for any movement4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bb4--,,riding-,,house ,,of ,,the ,,author ,a little study and a little experience should teach a man much regarding the shoeing of his horse4 ,if the animal has true and level action1 it should have light irons all round4 ,if it shambles1 or if the stride is too confined1 the weight of the shoes should be increased4 ,the upper surface of the iron1 which comes next to the hoof1 should be flat2 the lower surface may be bevelled from the outside1 or have a groove in which the holes for the nails are punched4 ,the hind shoes should have very small calks1 the toes being correspondingly thickened to give a level bearing4 ,only so much of the crust or wall of the hoof should be removed as will give the foot a level bearing1 keeping the toe straight and the face of the hoof with the slope which conforms to that of the pastern4 ,the bars at the heels should not be cut away1 except upon the recommendation of a veterinary1 and the frog and sole should have nothing removed from them beyond the loose flakes that show themselves as those parts are renewed4 ,the shoe should then be made to fit the prepared hoof1 and fastened by no more than five nails1 three on the outside quarter1 two on the inside1 the protruding ends of the nails being cut off and the exposed points clinched4 ,the outer wall of the hoof must not be rasped or scraped4 ,turned-in toes or toes turned out may be produced by bad shoeing1 or1 when natural malformations1 be mitigated more or less by good work1 a glance at the foot showing what is required in each case4 ,so brushing1 interfering1 overreaching1 forging1 bowed tendons1 and many other disorders may be produced or prevented4 ,no horse should be sent to the forge unattended unless the smith is a master of his craft1 a white blackbird4 ,for ice-covered roads and for slippery asphalt streets1 ,i have found no shoes equal to ,dryden's rubber pads4 ,when it is no longer advisable to retain a horse1 it will usually be found that a satisfactory sale is even more difficult than a satisfactory purchase4 ,the saying first loss is best applies in this case with force4 ,if a dealer will not take the animal1 it is better to send it to the auction block than to hold on indefinitely for a chance buyer4 ,if the seller desires to keep in touch with the horse and to be kept informed of its future1 he will give a warranty4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,some ,,saddle-,,horse ,,stock ,,farms ,with ,lexington1 ,kentucky1 as a centre one may1 with a radius of thirty miles1 describe a circumference which will embrace more fine horses than any area of like extent upon the globe4 ,here is the home of the ,american saddle-horse1 a well-bred animal that has no superior for pleasure riding4 ,there were good saddle-horses in ,kentucky before ,denmark1 ,hedgeford's celebrated son1 made his appearance2 but it was largely to the influence of this stallion upon suitable stocks that the superb animals now under consideration owe their existence1 for few1 if any1 of these horses are without some strains of ,denmark blood1 even a slight infusion seeming to have great effect4 ,from ,kentucky these saddle-horses have found their way into ,illinois1 ,missouri1 ,tennessee1 and other states1 and have always met with appreciation for their excellent qualities4 ,the grazing region of central ,kentucky has a gently undulating surface1 watered with pretty streams and artificial lakes2 on every hand are groves of noble trees in sufficient number to diversify the landscape2 and a carpet of rich green turf is spread over the ground1 even where the shade is most dense4 ,the climate1 the nutritious food1 and the intelligent care of man have made these pastures celebrated the world over for the character of the domestic animals they produce4 ,within short railway journeys of ,lexington1 through a lovely1 smiling country1 are a number of stock farms devoted to the breeding of riding-horses2 for1 although the stupidity of the market demands that these animals shall be quiet to drive1 they are bred on purely saddle-horse lines1 and the breeder hopes that no animal leaving his hands will ever be called upon to look through a collar4 ,i have known of one case where a farmer asked the privilege of taking back a very fine animal at the purchase price rather than see it put to harness work4 ,a soldier throughout two wars1 an active and efficient park commissioner in ,louisville1 the city of his adoption1 a man of extensive travel and one prominent in many affairs1 ,general ,john ,b4 ,castleman has felt it his duty1 as well as his pleasure1 to give much time and attention to the improvement of the saddle-horse4 ,emily1 winner of the first premium over mares of any age at the ,columbian ,exposition1 ,dorothy1 with a clear record in seventy show rings1 ,matilda1 who met defeat but once in fifty competitions1 and many other fine animals were reared by this gentleman4 ,some years since ,general ,castleman removed his breeding establishment to ,clifton ,farm1 ,mercer ,county1 and he has recently placed it in the hands of his son1 ,major ,david ,castleman4 ,here1 upon a range of eight hundred acres1 may be found horses of only the most select strains1 bred upon lines which have been proved true after years of study and experiment4 ,at the head of the stud is ,cecil ,palmer1 a splendid animal1 of perfect paces1 and in whose pedigree may be found the names of ,denmark1 ,cockspur1 ,whip1 ,gray ,eagle1 ,vermont ,black ,hawk1 and other horses whose blood is in the best representatives of the saddle-animal4 ,the horses of ,clifton ,farm are broken to ride at two years of age1 and their education is carried on very slowly and most carefully4 ,the foal almost invariably takes naturally to the five gaits1 but no effort is made to force the animal into any particular pace2 and if the influence of some remote trotting ancestor exhibits itself in an indisposition to take the rack or the running walk1 the animal is not required to accept such accomplishments4 ,the writer saw ,major ,castleman ride ,garrard1 a two-year-old1 in the slow gallop 7or canter71 the complacency1 tempo1 and action of which would have been creditable to a park hack of mature years and careful training4 ,indeed1 the docility of these riding-horses1 observed everywhere in a rather thorough tour1 was remarkable4 ,a ride of fifteen or twenty minutes from ,lexington1 upon the ,southern railway1 will bring the visitor to ,pisgah1 where he will find the establishment of the ,gay ,brothers1 the largest farm devoted to the rearing of saddle-horses in this country4 ,here about three hundred choice animals have the freedom of nearly one thousand acres of blue-grass pasture4 ,at the head of the stud is ,highland ,denmark1 a true type of his family1 the sire of more prize winners and fine foals than any stallion in the state4 ,at the ,louisville ,horse ,show1 in #aijc1 the descendants of this horse gained first honors in the classes for two-year-olds1 for three-year-olds1 for four-year-olds1 for the best registered saddle-horse1 and for the championship 7#ajjj value74 ,he is the sire of ,motto and of ,elsa1 well known throughout the country4 ,highland ,denmark is a magnificent animal1 #af hands in height1 of splendid form and graceful movements1 docile in temper1 and1 although he runs loose and has not had a stable door shut in his face for five years1 his beautiful dark bay coat shines like satin4 ,no stock that the writer saw in ,kentucky was in better condition than that of the ,gay ,brothers1 the foals of the present year being particularly strong and active4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bc4--;,,garrard1 ,,two ,,years ,,old ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bd4--;,,carbonel1 ,,four ,,years ,,old ,the ,gay ,brothers break their horses to saddle at two years of age2 at three years of age their education is enlarged2 and at four they are ready for purchasers1 and none of them remain on hand unless retained for some specific purpose4 ,so great is the demand for horses of this class1 that breeders could readily dispose of more than double the numbers they can furnish1 and dealers and other purchasers find it difficult to obtain very desirable horses of four years and upward4 ,some dealers buy weanlings and yearlings to make sure of the produce of certain well-known mares1 and it is by no means a rare case that a foal makes its appearance in the world1 the property of some one other than the breeder who has anticipated its birth4 ,the saddle-horse farm next in size to that of ,gay ,brothers is that of ,colonel ,john ,t4 ,woodford1 near ,mount ,sterling1 about thirty miles from ,lexington4 ,colonel ,woodford is well and favorably known1 not only throughout his native state1 but wherever the ,kentucky saddle-horse finds admirers2 and many of his horses are sold to clients who have never seen his animals1 but who rely upon ,colonel ,woodford to carry out their wishes4 ,indeed1 more than one disinterested admirer volunteered the information to the writer that the purchaser who trusted to ,colonel ,woodford's choice was apt to fare better than he who made his own selection with less knowledge of the animal4 ,at the head of this stud is ,forest ,denmark1 a famous sire4 ,then comes ,stirling ,chief1 a fine chestnut stallion1 well bred and truly made1 of vigorous but graceful action1 exact paces1 and a kind disposition1 half-brother to ,montgomery ,chief and to ,bourbon ,king1 the two most highly admired stallions of their class4 ,here1 too1 are ,dickens1 a beautiful horse of a rich brown coat1 and ,lexington1 both ,denmarks on the side of sire and of dam4 ,this breeding is not so usual as might be supposed1 although one of the best judges of saddle-horses in the state of ,kentucky spoke the general sentiment when he said that a saddle-horse could not have too much ,denmark blood4 ,about one hundred animals of various ages1 all of the best strains1 fill up the tale4 ,colonel ,woodford does not break his horses to saddle until they are in their fourth year1 as he desires that they should have strength and development before they undergo training2 but their excellent dispositions and the handling incident to their care make them quiet and easy to manage and quick to learn4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #be4--;,,high ,,lassie4 ,,two ,,years ,,old ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bf4--,,mares ,,and ,,foals4 ,,gay ,,brothers ,five miles from ,versailles1 a short journey from ,lexington1 one finds the farm of the ,ball ,brothers4 ,this is the home of ,montgomery ,chief1 the grand horse that has fairly carried off the honors wherever he has been shown4 ,in #aijb he won the championship at ,louisville1 ,nashville1 ,indianapolis1 ,kansas ,city1 ,st4 ,louis1 and ,chicago4 ,in #aijc1 barred at ,louisville1 he was champion at ,kansas ,city 7#ajjj prize71 ,chicago1 ,st4 ,louis1 and ,atlanta4 ,in #aijd he was first in his class at the ,st4 ,louis ,exposition4 ,of imposing size1 great substance1 faultless form1 golden coat1 proud carriage1 and brilliant action1 ,montgomery ,chief is an admirable animal4 ,his qualities seem too great for everyday use1 and he is worthy of bearing an emperor at the head of a victorious army4 ,if during his career the country had a more beautiful saddle stallion1 it is to be regretted that no such appearance was made1 and this horse must be considered the greatest of his class and day until his colors are taken from him in public competition4 ,it must not be understood that excellent saddle-horses may be found only on the large stock farms1 where the selection is greater and the chances are greater4 ,there is a good horse for nearly every holding in the ,blue ,grass region1 and the man who breeds his only mare may through good luck1 aiding good judgment1 rear a ,montgomery ,chief or a ,bourbon ,king1 the last-named1 ,i may say1 being a young horse selected by many of the best judges to bear away the bell in future contests4 ,,chapter ,v ,,the ,,saddle--,,the ,,bridle--,,how ,,to ,,mount ,the ,english or flat saddle1 is the only one fit for sport or pleasure4 ,it gives no trouble in mounting or dismounting1 it is the only form which permits every man to obtain the true seat1 and it is far and away the most comfortable tree when a horse falls with its rider4 ,it is used by civilians throughout the civilized world1 and by military men in their sports and whenever its use by them is permissible4 ,indeed1 the nearer the requirements of the military saddle allow it to approach the ,english saddle1 the better4 ,the tree of the saddle should have a cut-back pommel to prevent the withers of the horse from being chafed4 ,the side-bars should take an even bearing upon each side of the horse's back1 a channel in the panel being made to keep the saddle clear of the spine4 ,the throat of the tree should not be narrow enough to pinch the horse2 if too broad1 it will not be stable4 ,the tree being suitable in other respects1 it will be very easy to bend the lower points until they embrace the shoulders snugly1 and to have a well-fitted saddle4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bg4--,,stirling ,,chief ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bh4--,,stirling ,,chief ,,in ,,trot ,the stirrups should be of tempered steel1 of large size and not too light1 with the tread at least an inch in breadth4 ,when the panel1 or under stuffing of the saddle1 has been found to be right1 care should be taken to preserve it1 as it is very difficult to find a saddler who will replace it exactly4 ,a cloth of felt or a piece of thin leather under the saddle will preserve the panel for many years4 ,in places where ,i have found it impossible to have the panel satisfactorily fitted1 ,i have removed it altogether1 and girthed the saddle over thick felt numnah1 a proceeding which answered perfectly4 ,saddle-galls are always due either to an ill-fitting tree or an ill-fitting rider2 they are preventable1 they should not exist4 ,the saddle having been found to suit the horse1 the rider may consider his own comfort and convenience4 ,it is always better1 where skilful workmen can be found1 to buy the tree of the right length and have the saddle finished to suit horse and rider4 ,the web foundation of the seat can readily be arranged1 before the pigskin is put on1 so that the dip will suit the conformation of the man4 ,the dip1 or lowest point of the seat1 should be slight4 ,if too far to the rear1 it will give the man a sensation of falling back2 if too far to the front1 it will throw his body forward4 ,when1 sitting upon his buttocks1 he finds that he maintains a perfectly erect seat without restraint1 it is just right4 ,where saddlers do not know their trade1 it only remains to try finished saddles until the horse and the man are suited4 ,the whip should be a light1 straight1 flexible contrivance1 with no more of a lash than a silken tip4 ,the use of the crop1 except in the hunting-field1 is an absurdity4 ,fashion dictates that the whip should be held nearly straight in the right hand and pointing across the withers of the horse2 but ,fashion is not a horseman4 ,as the whip should give strokes upon the forehand of the horse only under exceptional circumstances1 common sense dictates that the instrument should be held point down1 so that it may be applied with facility against the side of the horse just back of the girths--the proper place for its effects to produce increased impulses from the croup4 ,with a woman the riding rod takes the place of the right leg of the horseman1 and it is impossible to use it in that manner if it is held across the shoulders of the horse4 ,there are but two bridle bits for riding purposes4 ,the first and most useful is the snaffle1 a smooth1 round mouthpiece1 jointed in the middle1 with rings1 and1 where it is employed alone1 with cheek-pieces also on the ends4 ,the snaffle is the bit for the beginner1 because he can do little harm with it2 and it is the bit for the accomplished horseman1 because in his hands it has a great range of effects4 ,the curb-bit should never be used without the snaffle1 as there are often occasions when the powers of the curb-bit alone are ineffectual1 and the snaffle must go to its assistance4 ,the mouthpiece of the curb-bit is rigid1 with a raised middle1 or port1 to give ease to the tongue of the horse and to let the mouthpiece come down upon the bars of the animal's lower jaw4 ,upon each end of the mouthpiece is an arm1 the upper branch of which has a fixed ring for the cheek-piece of the bridle1 the lower branch having a loose ring to receive the rein4 ,the lower branch of this arm1 measuring from the middle of the mouthpiece to the middle of the lower ring1 should be #c inches in length4 ,the upper branch1 measuring from the middle of the mouthpiece to the highest part of the ring1 into which the headstall is buckled1 should be #a inches in length1 the assumed depth of the lower jaw of the horse4 ,these measurements are as nearly exact as may be1 to get the effects of a lever of the second class upon such a yielding and changeable thing as the head of the horse1 the animal being1 say1 #ae hands high1 of normal form4 ,upon the ring of the upper branches metal hooks are fastened1 and to these the curb-chain is attached4 ,when the curb-chain1 its links twisted until the chain is flat1 fits properly in the chin groove of the horse1 directly opposite to the cannons of the bit1 that point becomes the fulcrum of the lever1 and the power being applied through the reins to the long branches1 the effects are applied to the bars of the lower jaw4 ,the width of the mouthpiece will depend upon that of the animal's jaw2 it should not be so narrow as to pinch the muzzle between the branches1 nor so wide as to have an annoying play4 ,to place the double bridle upon the horse1 the groom should approach the animal on the near side1 his left arm carrying the bridle by the head-piece and reins4 ,then1 the stall halter having been removed1 he will pass the reins over the head of the horse until they rest upon the neck near the withers2 taking the bridle in the right hand by the head-piece1 so that the nose of the horse goes between the cheek-pieces1 he will raise the bridle until the bits are about to touch the animal's lips2 then1 opening its mouth with the thumb of the left hand1 he will gently insert the bits and slip the head-piece over the poll of the horse and see that the ears are free1 finally fastening the throat-lash loosely4 ,the bridle should be so fitted that the snaffle lies snugly up in the corners of the horse's mouth without pressing against the lips4 ,the curb-bit1 lower in the mouth1 should rest upon the bare bars just above the tusks of the horse or the place where they are usually found in the male4 ,the curb-chain should not be fastened until the rider is about to mount1 and a horse should never be led while the curb-chain is hooked on both sides4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #bi4--;,,double ,,bridle ,,fitted ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #cj4--,,mounting ,,with ,,stirrups ,in hooking up the curb-chain it should first be seen that on the far side it is outside of the snaffle2 then it should be twisted until it is quite flat and hooked up on the near side outside of the snaffle1 at just such a length as to lie smoothly in the chin groove4 ,to test the accuracy of this the curb-reins should be seized under the jaw of the horse and drawn toward its chest4 ,if the bit stands stiffly1 the chain is too tight4 ,if the branches of the curb-bit come back in a line with the reins or anywhere near it1 the chain is too loose4 ,the chain will be found to be of the right length when1 maintaining its place in the chin groove1 a slight tension upon the reins gives such a pressure upon the jaw of the horse4 ,if the curb-chain be not brought from one hook to the other on the outside of the snaffle1 it will interfere with the action of both bits and will pinch the lips of the horse4 ,on more than half of the saddle-horses ,i look at1 this important rule is not observed4 ,it is the usual and better custom to have the horse turn in its stall when the halter is taken off1 and to bridle it as it stands with tail to the manger4 ,then the horse is led to the gangway and the saddle put on2 if the saddling has not been done some half-hour previously1 as is to be recommended4 ,in saddling the horse the first care is to see that the panel is perfectly clean and dry1 then that the hairs on the back of the horse lie smoothly2 the saddle1 with the girths and stirrup leathers crossed over the seat1 should be lifted gently on to the back of the horse1 and put exactly in the saddle-place1 which is as far forward as it will remain fixed and yet clear the withers and give the shoulders free play4 ,unless a rider is accustomed to mounting1 and that in some settled manner1 it is often a very awkward performance4 ,provided he does not pull at the cantle and so bring the saddle awry to gall the horse1 it does not matter greatly how he gets safely on the back of the horse4 ,he may1 standing on the near side of the horse1 either take the reins in his right hand and with it clasp the pommel of the saddle1 insert his left foot in the stirrup1 spring from the ball of the right foot1 and1 seizing a lock of the mane1 steady himself until he carries his right leg over the croup and so sink into the saddle2 or1 facing to the rear1 he may take the reins in his left hand and with it seize a lock of the mane1 then1 inserting his left foot in the stirrup1 spring from the right foot1 and as he rises take hold of the pommel of the saddle1 carry his right leg over the back of the horse1 and when he has found his seat transfer the reins to his right hand4 ,by the former manner he will have the advantage of being able to control the horse1 in case it goes forward1 as the right hand1 holding the reins1 may readily be freed from the pommel4 ,the latter mode is1 perhaps1 less difficult1 especially with a tall horse4 ,if the animal is restless1 the rider may have a leg up1 as the jockeys do1 by taking grasps of the mane and pommel and having an attendant seize his left leg above the ankle and aid him in rising to the position from which he may carry his right leg over4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ca4--,,mounting ,,with ,,stirrups ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #cb4--,,mounting ,,without ,,stirrups ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #cc4--;,,dismounting ,,without ,,stirrups ,in dismounting with the stirrup1 the rider should first release his right foot2 then1 transferring the reins to his right hand1 he should with it seize the pommel and with his left hand take a lock of the mane2 then1 taking his weight upon his left foot1 supported by his hands1 he should carry his right leg over the croup1 face the horse1 and come gently to the ground on his right foot1 finally releasing his left foot and his holds upon mane and pommel1 the reins being retained1 to control the horse4 ,any man of ordinary activity should be able to vault into the saddle without the aid of the stirrup or the assistance of a groom1 whether the horse be standing or moving1 even in the gallop4 ,indeed1 by taking advantage of the movements of the animal1 a man may more readily vault into the saddle of a horse that is not at rest than when it is standing quietly1 provided that he can get at the near shoulder of the horse and secure his clasps upon the mane and the pommel4 ,that is1 if he can get the proper holds1 from the right position1 no horse can prevent his gaining his seat4 ,to vault into the saddle1 the man should stand facing the near shoulder of the horse4 ,in the left hand he should take a lock of the mane1 halfway between the ears and the withers1 and1 with the right hand resting on the front of the saddle1 he should grasp the throat of the pommel1 thumb under1 fingers pointing to the ground over the right side of the horse4 ,then1 springing from the balls of both feet1 he should take his weight upon his extended arms and1 carrying his right leg over the croup of the horse1 sink into his seat4 ,should the horse be plunging or moving1 the man will mark the time of some forward impulse1 and springing with it reach the saddle without making the exact position on the extended arms2 in other words1 he will throw himself upon the horse as it pulls him forward4 ,always in mounting1 by this or by any other method1 except that secondly described1 the reins should be taken in the right hand and held by pressure against the pommel1 so that in case of failure the rider will be able to control his horse2 when his seat is secured1 the rider will pass the reins into the bridle-hand4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #cd4--,,the ,,jockey ,,seat ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ce4--,,pointing ,,knees ,,above ,,the ,,crest ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,to dismount without stirrups1 the rider should transfer the reins to his right hand1 take the holds on mane and pommel as in mounting1 lean far forward1 and1 taking his weight upon his flexed arms1 carry his right leg back over the croup to the near side1 and drop gently to the ground4 ,in dismounting from a moving horse--and this can readily be done even at a moderate gallop--the rider should be ready to take a few steps in the direction of progress as he reaches the ground1 in order that he may maintain his equilibrium4 ,,chapter ,,vi ,,the ,,seat--,,general ,,horsemanship ,the most important thing in horsemanship is the acquirement of a stable seat1 for without it not only is the rider insecure1 but it is impossible that the hand should act with lightness and precision if his seat is so feeble that under any circumstances he should depend upon the reins for maintaining his position on the horse4 ,whether it be for pleasure1 sport1 or war1 a man has one seat that is the best possible4 ,this is readily obtained1 even upon mounting the horse for the first time2 but to keep it exactly under the more or less vigorous movements of the horse requires long practice and a suppleness of the body in every part1 that comes from carefully followed exercises in the saddle4 ,the seat about to be described was that of the earliest riders1 represented by ,pheidias1 described by ,xenophon1 employed by the ,bedouins and other ,eastern horsemen1 when no cumbrous trees with a dip of varying parts of a circle interfered with a position that was safe1 natural1 and rational1--the seat in use before those saddles which held the rider between high pommels and high cantles demanding a standing posture in the stirrups that prohibited the grasp of the knees and thighs and the pliancy of the body which gives friction and balance to the mounted man4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #cf4--,,seat ,,without ,,stirrups ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #cg4--,,seat ,,with ,,stirrups ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ch4--,,leaning ,,back ,i may say here that the saddletree was not used until the ,romans introduced it sometime in the fourth century1 and the stirrup followed in the seventh century1 first as an aid in mounting and finally as a support4 ,the ,greeks and their ancestors and the horsemen of the ,euphrates ,valley rode upon cloths and skins1 without stirrups and without trees4 ,the first mention of the horse that we find upon the monuments is supposed to date about #chjj years before our era4 ,the first representation of the horse is upon a little wooden disk now in the ,british ,museum1 in which two horses attached to a chariot by harnesses that closely resemble those now in use are shown2 and this work is ascribed to ,aahmes ,i4 7about #agjj ,b4,c47 and suggests that the animal was introduced into ,egypt by the ,hyksos 7possibly ,bedouins71 as they had possession of the country previously4 ,i cannot find any representations of mounted men earlier than the sculptures upon the ,assyrian monuments1 attributed to the middle of the seventh century ,b4,c4 ,it would seem from the inscriptions and from historical writings that1 both in war and in the chase1 the horse was in very early times first and most frequently used in harness2 and there can be no doubt that in ancient days chariots were employed in charging bodies of the enemy just as modern cavalry are used4 ,the residents of mountainous countries1 ,i venture to say1 were the first to use cavalry4 ,wherever the ancient rider is shown upon the monuments1 before the introduction of the saddletree1 he has exactly the seat of the modern1 the only possible seat upon a flat or treeless saddle4 ,the variations which appear in the seats of modern horsemen are observable in the positions of the lower parts of the leg from the knee down1 and such may be passed over as negligible quantities1 for the principles are everywhere observed2 and while it is doubtless better that there should be no deviations from the canons of the art in any particular1 circumstances sometimes demand trifling changes1 as when the soldier's kit requires the lower parts of his legs to be carried unduly to the rear of the perpendicular1 or when the cross-country rider drives his feet home1 to secure the irons1 and so obtains rigid1 insensible bearing instead of the lively1 springy contact of the balls of the toes4 ,it is like walking on the heels4 ,for the best results1 that pressure only should be given to the tread of the stirrup that will hold the iron with an elastic touch2 any undue weight will force the seat1 as can plainly be understood4 ,this forcing of the seat is usually avoided by the rider carrying his feet to the rear when the horse springs in jumping1 and then he depends upon his true seat without the aid of the stirrups2 where this is not done1 the rider does not stick very closely to his saddle1 as many of the photographs of leaping horses show4 ,i do not say that it is not necessary on occasion to ride with the feet home1 but ,i do say1 that it gives a stiff seat1 and that it should only be followed when the necessity arises2 certainly not for pleasure riding1 where that mode1 as well as the crop1 are unsuitable4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ci4--;,,german ,,cavalry ,on page #bjj of that admirable work1 ,horses1 ,saddles1 and ,bridles1 ,general ,carter gives a photographic illustration of the ,american military seat1 which is an absolutely perfect representation of the seat about to be described4 ,the photographs of the best riders of the various countries reproduced here exhibit the same type2 and it will be observed that where the most violent exertions of the horse are to be expected the saddle is of the ,english form1 for in it the friction and balance which insure firmness are found in the highest degree4 ,the flat race jockey is a striking exception to what has been said of horsemen's seats1 and the ridiculous and tottering pose he assumes is to throw as much of the weight as possible on the shoulder of the sprinter1 in order that the drivers of the hind quarters may have free play4 ,but when the ,jock comes to steeplechasing1 he lengthens his stirrup leather and rides like a man4 ,the man may find his own best seat in the following manner3 mounting the horse1 he should sit down in the saddle1 taking his weight upon his buttocks1 while he holds his body erect1 the shoulders held back squarely1 his chin slightly withdrawn1 while his arms hang down loosely4 ,he should then1 without disturbance in any other part of his body1 raise his legs upward and inward until the points of his knees meet above the crest of the horse4 ,from this position he will drop his legs slowly until the inner sides of his thighs and the flat inner surfaces of his bent knees take every possible point of contact with the saddle1 the lower parts of the legs hanging without stiffness4 ,there can be no question with regard to the height and position of the knees4 ,should they be too high1 the upper surfaces of the thigh will have contact with the saddle2 should they be too low1 the under surfaces of the thigh will find the saddle1 when the points of the knees take this hold4 ,the jockey seat is the extreme type of the first-named condition1 the armor-clad knight an extreme type of the latter4 ,the length of the stirrup leathers will be right when the tread of the iron strikes the heels4 ,when the rider's feet are inserted in the stirrups1 it will be found that without effort they are parallel with the sides of the horse1 and very slightly in rear of the perpendicular4 ,from this erect position upon his buttocks1 together with the grasp of the knees and thighs1 the rider has the strongest and best possible seat that can be obtained through weight1 balance1 and friction2 and from it the upper part of the body may1 without affecting his stability1 be bent forward or back1 or swayed from side to side1 as circumstances may require1 while the lower parts of his legs are free to apply the calf or the heel with rapidity and precision to the sides of the horse4 ,how much of this bending or this swaying of the body may sometimes be required is exhibited by the photograph of the ,italian cavalry officer who rides down the face of a cliff1 or by that of the rider who makes a wheel1 or pirouette volte1 at a rapid pace4 ,from this seat the soldier may rise high enough to give force to the blow of his sabre2 the hunter may send his feet home in the irons without lengthening the leathers1 and every horseman will have the greatest security in the saddle that his skill in riding makes possible4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #dj4--;,a ,,pupil ,,of ,,saumur1 ,m4 ,,de ,,gisbert ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #da4--,,that ,,master ,,of ,,the ,,art1 ,m4 ,,de ,,bussigny ,there must be no rigidity2 from that elastic touch of the ball of the foot1 throughout his whole body1 the man must be supple and unconstrained4 ,stiffness in any part will destroy the essential harmony1 and prohibit grace and ease4 ,dancing and calisthenics go far in producing that suppleness1 facility1 and agility so necessary for excellence in horsemanship1 and gymnastic exercises upon the back of the horse are of great assistance in acquiring balance and firmness of grip4 ,some of these more important mounted exercises are now given1 and others will occur to the man who cares to take the trouble to ride well4 ,i may say here that ,i know men who have been riding from twenty to thirty years and through carelessness and want of instruction are but little better horsemen than mere beginners4 ,a very quiet horse should be saddled and bridled and taken to some retired place1 if it be a bit of soft ground there would be no harm1 or be brought into the riding-house where there are no other horses except those being used for a like purpose4 ,the man will then mount and take the position of the seat without stirrups1 his arms hanging down loosely4 ,he should then1 without disturbing the position of the seat1 and without struggling1 bend forward until one or the other shoulder touches the crest of the horse1 regaining the erect position slowly and gently4 ,he should in a like manner lean backward1 until his shoulders rest upon the croup of the horse1 and then rise as before4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #db4--;,,chasseurs ,d',,afrique ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #dc4--;,,arabs ,,in ,,french ,,service ,the rider will then lose his seat1 to the right or to the left1 as far as he may without falling1 and regain the saddle by a twist of the body and buttocks and grasp of the thighs1 without taking any assistance from his hands4 ,this exercise is valuable in giving the rider the power of regaining his seat1 should it be by chance disturbed1 without pulling on the mouth of the horse4 ,from the seat before described1 the rider will carry his right leg over the crest of the horse1 then he should turn to the left so that both legs are hanging on the near side of the horse1 then carry the left leg over the croup of the horse1 which brings his face to the rear1 then carry over the right leg to the far side of the horse1 and finally resume the seat by carrying his left leg over the crest of the animal4 ,in a similar manner the turn should be made to the right1 and in neither case may aid be sought from the hands4 ,none of these exercises are difficult2 after more than fifty years' work in the saddle ,i do them with ease1 and a boy or a young man should find themselves perfect after a few trials4 ,beginners should practise them daily1 and no horseman who hopes to keep up his suppleness in the saddle should neglect them for any length of time as long as he rides4 ,it is not necessary to be a contortionist1 nor will it answer to be an ossified freak4 ,i dare not say how old a man may be and yet retain all of those powers which make him a skilful horseman4 ,i know many riders who are well up in the sixties1 who do not appear to have lost any of their adroitness4 ,that master of the art1 ,de ,bussigny1 is no longer very young1 although no one would believe the fact on seeing him on a horse4 ,i saw ,james ,newsome riding and training when he was far past seventy4 ,i remember being present when that gallant gentleman1 ,count ,taubenheim1 equerry to the late king of ,wrtemberg1 already past ninety years of age1 rode in a quadrille before the present emperor of ,germany and gained deserved applause for his admirable performance4 ,we have inherited from the ,english many undesirable prejudices1 among them the belief that no foreigner can sit a horse4 ,in every country of continental ,europe the majority of men who are accustomed to ride are thorough horsemen1 some of them of the highest distinction1 because upon the continent riding is looked upon and practised as an art which requires application4 ,the ,english breed the best horses in the world1 they manage those in harness marvellously well1 and there are no bolder or more determined horsemen2 but it must be acknowledged that there are riders in ,italy1 ,germany1 ,france1 and ,austria who equal them in boldness and determination and surpass the best of them in dexterity and knowledge of the art4 ,the literature of the various countries bears out what has been written above1 for until very recently the ,english works on horsemanship were crude beyond belief1 and any improvement that has taken place is due to the influence of foreign authors4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #dd4--;,,french ,,officer ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #de4--;,,french ,,officers ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #df4--,,the ,,faultless ,,horsemanship ,,of ,,italians ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #dg4--;,,italian ,,officers ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #dh4--;,,an ,,italian ,,officer ,in ,america there has been1 until very recently1 but little interest in horsemanship except in some of the ,southern states1 and among soldiers and the few devoted to polo and hunting2 but the horse shows1 now so general throughout the country1 have excited great interest in the horse2 the riding-schools offer intelligent instruction1 and between them there will be fostered1 let us hope1 a taste and inclination for good horses and riding4 ,this subject will be treated at greater length in the following chapter4 ,the ,german foot-soldier is very stiff in his movements1 at least on parade1 and there is a certain stiffness about the trooper that detracts from his appearance in the eyes of the critic1 but his seat is firm1 and he handles his horse with precision4 ,his officer is usually a very fine horseman1 riding boldly and easily and with a knowledge of the niceties of the art4 ,steeplechasing and racing are practised largely throughout the ,german ,empire2 they are encouraged by the authorities and are participated in by nearly all of the younger army men4 ,every one who has there witnessed these sports has seen some magnificent examples of ready and skilful horsemanship4 ,i must confess to sharing the favorable opinion of the late emperor regarding the ,german lieutenant4 ,how he finds time with such conscientious devotion to his manifold duties to make his frequent and splendid appearances in public is marvellous4 ,he is1 perhaps1 a little haughty with strangers1 and undoubtedly more than a little arrogant with civilians1 failings due to his education1 but he is devoted to his profession1 a high-minded gentleman1 and brave cavalier4 ,no cavalry ever made a better record than did that of ,germany in the last war with ,france4 ,in ,france1 from a very early period1 a widespread interest was taken in systematic horsemanship that has not abated1 and both the military and civil life furnish many excellent horsemen4 ,in the ,bois1 in the exhibitions on the ,champs-lyses1 at the races and steeplechases about ,paris1 and elsewhere1 one may see good riding under the most favorable circumstances4 ,the troopers of the ,french army are less rigid in their saddles than are the ,germans1 and they move with a rapidity and precision that must make them a formidable force in the attack4 ,the ,french are now disposed to disavow their obligations to ,baucher1 but the fact is that all that is good in their systems was invented or formulated by that master1 although they did not follow him through the useless refinements of his later years1 and all modern methods1 military or civil1 are founded upon ,baucher's method4 ,no country has furnished such instructors in the art of horsemanship as did ,france in ,pluvinel1 ,la ,broue1 ,sollisel1 ,guerinire1 ,baucher1 ,raabe1 and ,d',aure1 or the equal of any one of them4 ,while the average rider of ,italy may not surpass his brethren of other countries1 the ,italian army of to-day furnishes the most daring and the most skilful horsemen in ,europe4 ,much of this excellence is due to the instruction and exercises of the military riding-school in ,rome1 and the admiration which the feats of these officers have gained1 has aroused the emulation of those in the other provinces of the empire1 and1 it may be said1 great interest among horsemen throughout the world4 ,in considering the horsemanship of continental ,europe1 where nearly everybody who rides is1 or has been1 in the army1 one's mind naturally turns to the military2 but this is not so of ,england where the majority is with the civilians1 and there we look upon the hunting-field1 the steeplechase course1 the polo grounds1 or the pleasant ,row4 ,the ,british horseman is a sportsman1 and a good sportsman1 for1 although he does not often have to submit to defeat1 he takes it like a man and is ready with equal mind for another trial4 ,his insular prepossessions have awakened so much animosity in the minds of other nations that they find it hard to be just to him2 and after all these years of reciprocities he is about as greatly misunderstood by ,european nations as they are by him4 ,as a consequence1 he jeers and sneers at all foreigners1 and they deny that he is a fair-minded sportsman or a good horseman4 ,i am speaking now of the general public who form1 or at least express1 national opinions1 for it is known that there is often good feeling between those members of the various nations who meet on the same social plane4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #di4--,,trooper1 ,,royal ,,horse ,,guards ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ej4--,,tent ,,pegging4 ,,scots ,,grays ,an ,english sportsman1 at his best1 is a bold1 strong1 determined rider1 and this can be said of a greater proportion of ,british horsemen than of those of any other country2 but he despises all refinements1 and many things which upon the continent are considered essentials2 he looks upon circus tricks as beneath his notice2 the consequence is that he falls behind in a field in which he should be first4 ,his primary object in riding is to get across a difficult country1 and do it quickly1 and he succeeds2 he is encouraged by his favorite authors1 who know nothing beyond this1 to believe that nothing remains4 ,i think that the observer who has seen the sportsman ride will be disappointed with the horsemanship of ,british troopers2 he will1 ,i think1 see that the officers1 as a rule1 ride well and gracefully1 but that the men do not ride as skilfully as they should1 their instruction being turned over to riding-masters who follow primitive regulations4 ,however1 there can be no doubt that the ,british soldier will always maintain that high reputation for valor which even his enemies grant4 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,american ,,horsemanship--,,our ,,cavalry ,i have said that in this country until very recent years comparatively little interest was taken in riding except in some of the ,southern states and in the army4 ,this was not because aptitude for the exercise was confined to certain districts1 for the hunt1 polo1 and riding clubs1 and the horse shows1 now so general throughout the continent1 are proving that everywhere our countrymen have the ability to make good horsemen4 ,in the ,east there is1 for example1 ,mr4 ,foxhall ,keene1 who has a world-wide fame as a thorough sportsman and a splendid rider2 and although he has perhaps no superior among these there are in ,new ,york and ,massachusetts riders of the very first force4 ,when the subject of riding is broached1 our minds naturally turn to ,kentucky4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ea4--;,,general ,,castleman ,from a long line of good horsemen the ,kentuckian inherits a love for the animal and a talent for riding1 and from childhood he is accustomed to the saddle4 ,his work in breeding and in training has placed his country under a debt of gratitude4 ,those who are well capable of judging say that the sight of ,general ,castleman upon a charger of his own breeding is something to remember4 ,mr4 ,charles ,railey is unrivalled in showing the graceful movements of a well-balanced saddle-horse1 and all of his family are skilled in the art of riding4 ,these names are mentioned because they are so widely known1 but there is no part of the state in which one may not see that the words ,kentuckian and horseman are synonymous4 ,the writer has no intention of slighting ,virginia1 ,missouri1 and ,illinois1 the first-named the cradle of horsemanship in this country1 the latter two rapidly taking prominent places in the breeding and in the training of the riding-horse1 but the limits of this work prevent full justice being done to all4 ,i have nothing but admiration for the skill and daring of the riders of the ,western plains1 but their bits1 their saddles1 and1 ,i may say1 their horses are unsuited to the uses we are considering1 and we can give them only our applause4 ,colonel ,cody1 who was a pony express rider before the days of the transcontinental railway1 was a bold and tireless horseman4 ,on one occasion1 his reliefs having been killed or driven off by ,indians1 he went three hundred and twenty-two miles in thirty-two hours of continuous riding4 ,he is still a strong and graceful horseman1 having adopted the military seat1 and is one of the best known and most picturesque figures of our day4 ,the mention of ,indians reminds me that they are the real ,american horsemen4 ,my acquaintance with the red man is mostly of rather a vicarious character1 somewhat similar to ,mark ,twain's pedestrian excursions4 ,my grandfather1 ,lieutenant-colonel ,richard ,clough ,anderson1 #fth ,virginia ,continental ,line1 went to the ,falls of the ,ohio1 now ,louisville1 ,kentucky1 in the year #aghd1 and was one of that band of pioneers who upheld and advanced the border4 ,since then there has been little or no time when some member of the family1 or close friend1 has not been in contact with the ,indian4 ,when the red man began to break and ride the wild horse1 it would be difficult to say4 ,the woodland and border savages used horses stolen from the whites1 but ,lewis and ,clark found the ,western tribes using the mustang1 broncho1 cayuse1 or whatever the title of the free horse may be1 as early as #ahjd4 ,excepting the ,comanches and some of the ,sioux1 the ,indians1 ,i am told1 were neither very bold nor very skilful riders1 although they managed their horses with sufficient dexterity to make them dangerous enemies1 but they had no mercy upon their beasts and no sentimental regard for them4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #eb4--,,mr4 ,c4 ,,elmer ,,railey ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ec4--;,a ,,rider ,,of ,,the ,,plains ,the story of the ,united ,states cavalry explains1 in brief1 the remarkable efficiency it has maintained in spite of the disadvantages with which it has been burdened--single bridles1 short service1 and changeable riding instructions4 ,up to #ahfa the corps consisted of but five regiments1 commanded by the most select body of officers in any service1 gentlemen who had passed through the best military college in the world1 or who were especially fitted for the duty to which they were assigned4 ,between the ,civil ,war and the recent war with ,spain five more regiments were added1 which were soon assimilated through tradition and example1 and the still small body of mounted men kept and augmented1 during a most trying period of great battles and severe ,indian campaigns1 its splendid reputation4 ,in #ahia five more regiments were added1 and these were readily taken up by the ten existing organizations1 now forming a fair force which is a credit to our army1 and which should be changed only by graduated increase1 say with one or two regiments armed with that unwieldy1 but fear-provoking1 weapon1 the lance4 ,before undertaking the present chapter ,i went to ,fort ,riley1 ,kansas1 to visit the ,school of ,application for mounted service1 to gain information regarding our cavalry1 and to obtain photographs for the illustration of this book4 ,unfortunately1 the weather proved so bad that ,i could take advantage of but few of the opportunities for using my camera1 so kindly offered me by ,colonel ,steevers1 the commandant2 but in the short1 infrequent periods of good light ,i procured the pictures which adorn these pages1 and otherwise ,i saw much that was of great interest4 ,the school of equitation1 to which branch ,i gave my attention chiefly1 is under the direction of ,captain ,w4 ,c4 ,short1 a splendid horseman1 and both his scholars and the senior officers spoke in the highest praise of the good results which had followed his instruction4 ,when a regular1 simple1 but complete method of horsemanship becomes general throughout the mounted service1 a cavalryman may be made efficient in less than half the time required by less finished systems which may be varied with each change in the company commander4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ed4--;,,buffalo ,,bill1 ,,colonel ,w4 ,f4 ,,cody ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ee4--;,,an ,,american ,,horseman ,i saw a few of the graduates from the school of equitation in such movements as a cavalryman might be called upon to make1 pirouettes1 side movements1 etc41 and also in jumping4 ,the riding was excellent1 and the horses showed far better training than is usually found in officers' chargers4 ,while at the fort1 it so happened that ,i saw but two troops mounted4 ,one morning ,captain ,rutherford's troop1 of the ,fourth ,cavalry1 passed me in going out to target practice1 and ,i was greatly pleased with the appearance of the men1 as they bore themselves with easy1 graceful1 but strong seats1 the stirrup leathers two or three holes shorter than in former days1 and just right to my way of thinking1 while the neat service uniform was a wonderful improvement over the old blue blouse and baggy trousers1--as old ,pepys would have said1 a pretty sight4 ,later in the day ,i saw a quick drill1 trot and gallop1 of ,troop ,k1 ,eighth ,cavalry1 under ,lieutenant ,george ,williams4 ,i was told that1 owing to the interruptions incident to target practice1 the men and horses were not in the best condition for this work2 but there was no occasion for adverse criticism1 and the performance compared most favorably with similar movements ,i had witnessed with crack companies of ,european cavalry4 ,on another occasion some of the men of ,troop ,l1 ,eighth ,cavalry1 under the direction of ,lieutenant ,duncan ,elliott1 gave an exhibition of daring horsemanship4 ,roman standing races upon two horses1 vaulting upon and over two and three galloping horses1 standing upon the bare back of a horse while leaping the bar1 and1 finally1 the riding of horses which bucked violently1 were features of this entertainment1 which was concluded without an error or an awkward motion4 ,visits to the farriery1 to the school for veterinary studies1 to the pack-train1 and to the targets filled in the time pleasantly and profitably4 ,on the whole1 one must be a very unobservant1 unappreciative visitor who would not be impressed with the great value of the ,school of ,application1 not only in the branch upon which ,i have touched1 but in everything relating to the mounted service4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ef4--,,troopers1 ,,fourth ,,and ,,eighth ,,cavalry1 ,u4,s4,a4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #eg4--;,,captain ,,short1 ,,riding ,,instructor1 ,,fort ,,riley ,,chapter ,,viii ,,how ,,to ,,ride--,,the ,,snaffle-,,bridle--,,the ,,walk ,,and ,,the ,,trot--,,shying--,,the ,,cunning ,,of ,,the ,,horse--,,sulking--,,rearing--,,defeati ng ,,the ,,horse ,among my earliest recollections are those of a ,shetlander1 ,billy ,button1 upon which ,i used to disport myself on the gravel footwalk in front of our house4 ,my children1 also1 have been accustomed to horses from infancy4 ,these youthful experiences are doubtless useful in teaching confidence and1 what is of equal importance1 discretion4 ,if he is not in terror of all such animals1 it is the inexperienced person who exhibits too much boldness and places himself unnecessarily at the heels of a horse or overrates his powers of control4 ,but a boy will never learn to ride upon a diminutive pony or upon any dull1 slow-moving horse2 from them he does not get the seat that quick motions quickly give1 and his hand will be spoiled by the hard mouth or the no mouth of a sluggish beast4 ,eight or ten years of age is as early as children should receive orderly lessons in horsemanship4 ,it is useless to give instructions before the child is old enough to understand them or strong enough to carry them out4 ,indeed1 ,i think that most riding masters would prefer taking an active boy of sixteen or eighteen years of age who had never been on a horse in place of one much younger who had been riding at his own sweet will4 ,aside from want of vigor1 the latter would almost certainly have faults difficult to correct4 ,i advocate the use of the ,shetland or other small pony as an amusing and valuable toy for very young children2 but when they are old enough to receive instruction in riding1 the pony should be devoted to harness1 where he is really useful and often ornamental1 and something larger should be procured for the rider4 ,a retired polo pony1 or some quick but steady animal of that type1 is an admirable successor to the ,shetland for a child's riding4 ,when ,i was a boy we used to get ponies from the ,indian country1 ,i think they were called ,cherokees1 that were simply perfection--pretty1 nimble1 and free from all vices4 ,mounted upon them1 a number of boys would together scamper over the hills1 avoiding the monotony of the roads1 to try conclusions in speed1 in jumping logs1 low fences1 and such obstacles1 and in other exploits that gave firm seats and confidence4 ,then1 sometime in the late '#ej's1 ,henri ,franconi opened a riding-school and initiated us in the mange1 and we began to break and train horses4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #eh4--;,,captain ,w4 ,c4 ,,short1 ,,captain ,,guy ,,henry1 ,,lieutenant ,,george ,,williams ,girls should occasionally be placed upon a cross-saddle until they reach the age of ten or twelve years1 so that they may learn the employment of the aids2 but there is no more ungraceful position that a grown woman can take than to mount a horse astride2 she has a far firmer seat in the side-saddle1 and when she is a good rider never shows to greater advantage4 ,any man may learn to ride with safety and comfort at any age as long as he has the necessary activity2 and there are many men of forty1 or even of fifty1 who would be able to ward off old age for a long time1 and have a pleasurable1 wholesome exercise1 by riding horses that do not require too much skill in their management4 ,for one to excel in horsemanship1 certain physical qualifications and a rare gift1 aptitude for the art1 are required4 ,i have often heard ,william ,fritz of ,stuttgart say at an early lesson1 ,that boy will never make a rider1 or1 less frequently1 ,ah6 here we have a good one2 for that experienced teacher soon recognized the possession of the necessary adroitness or the want of it4 ,but even where one has every natural advantage1 he will never become a horseman without some instruction in the general principles of the art4 ,these have been formulated1 after centuries of experiment1 and it is impossible that any one should acquire a useful knowledge of them by his unaided endeavors4 ,the worst rider who ever mounted a horse imitated other1 and of course better1 horsemen when he essayed to get outside of the animal2 but he doubtless thought that he was his own instructor1 and it is the man of such reasoning powers who refuses to learn4 ,we know that in the history of the world there was but one natural rider1 the brother of the first oyster-eater1 who in the dawn of the quaternary period rode his family dinner1 a broken-down1 prehistoric horse1 to his cave home4 ,since that event riding has been an art handed down by tradition and imitation4 ,the aptitude of which ,i speak is indicated by suppleness of the body1 deftness of hands and legs1 and the faculty of obtaining an understanding with the horse4 ,rigidity in any part will prevent one becoming a good horseman4 ,the aids 7hands and heels7 must be applied with celerity and precision1 and the rider must feel what the horse is doing and what it purposes to do4 ,all of these things demand long and carefully conducted practice1 but their full acquirement is denied to most men2 otherwise we would have more such masters as ,de ,bussigny4 ,from long practice in applying the aids the thorough horseman can use hands and legs without conscious thought1 and he would often find it difficult to say offhand what he had done under certain conditions4 ,his movements become as impulsive as those of the skilled pianist1 who methodically touches thousands of keys with such marvellous rapidity that it seems impossible that his mind can even follow his fingers4 ,the trained horse under the trained rider moves at the master's will2 the two are one1 it is the centaur4 ,the intent is one with the action1 there is no time for consideration1 thought has been expended in early practice and has produced those instinctive motions of the man which are always right and always instantly obeyed instinctively4 ,from the first1 it should be known that riding is the production by the rider's heels of impulses which are met1 governed1 and directed by his hand4 ,therefore the secret of success in horsemanship is that the spur must always precede the hand1 whether it be to advance1 to turn1 or to go backward4 ,if the hand is not given impulses1 it is powerless1 and the horse is not under control4 ,whenever the word spur is used1 it indicates such effect of the leg aid as the condition requires1 whether it be the pressure of the calf against the side of the horse1 the tap of the heel1 or the prick of the sharp rowel4 ,the beginner should use the simple snaffle-bridle1 for it has a much wider range of effects than the curb-bit1 and with it he can do less damage to the horse and to himself when he hangs on to the reins to aid his seat or uses more force than is requisite4 ,the instructions contained in this chapter1 ,i should say1 are primarily intended for the behoof of the tyro1 but they would not be superfluous for ninety-nine hundredths of those who fancy they can ride4 ,the general principles of horsemanship are so few and so simple that any one should readily master them2 afterward it is a mere matter of practice and aptitude4 ,it is a matter of surprise that so many men ride1 and yet do not think it worth while to investigate the principles of the art which they think they follow4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ei4--,,the ,,small ,,pony ,,is ,,but ,a ,,toy ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fj4--,,until ,,ten ,,or ,,twelve1 ,,girls ,,should ,,ride ,,astride ,the rider1 having taken his position upon the horse1 as has been described1 for the seat1 he will take a snaffle-rein in each hand1 the loose ends toward his thumbs and held by them1 the reins passing through the breadth of his hands1 which are held knuckles up1 close together1 to assist each other1 and take a gentle feeling upon the mouth of the horse4 ,he should then quietly close his legs against the sides of the horse and draw the reins until he has collected the forces of the animal1 so that it will be able to go forward in a measured pace and not in the loose and disunited condition that would ensue were it driven on before it had been prepared4 ,this collection will be evidenced by the alertness of the impulses and by the movements of its muscles1 as the horse arranges the bearers to take each its share of the weight4 ,to advance at a walk the rider will increase the pressure of his legs1 or give a gentle tap of the whip behind the girth1 until he produces the necessary impulses1 which should be met by the hand in such a manner that the horse will proceed in an evenly cadenced walk4 ,the movements of the horse are due to the changes of the centre of gravity produced by the impulses1 and the legs make corresponding changes of position in order that they may support the mass as it passes over them in any direction4 ,as the violence and rapidity of the changes of the centre of gravity increase1 so does the speed and also the changes in the positions of the legs as they are required to give support4 ,this is all very simple1 and the rider should know at the start how the impulses he demands act1 and how they may be governed4 ,the lowest form of collection of the forces in which the horse may move in a regularly cadenced pace1 say in the walk1 the moderate trot1 and the hand-gallop 7sometimes miscalled the canter71 is the state which we call in hand4 ,when the horse hangs upon the bridle and shambles along1 it is out of hand1 and renewed exertion should be called for from the hind quarters1 which should be met and measured by the bit4 ,when the animal proceeds in free and even strides1 its head fairly elevated1 its face about perpendicular to the ground1 and there is a light1 elastic tension against the reins1 it is in hand1 and between heels and hand should be kept so4 ,if a horse is out of hand1 it is not only careless in raising its feet1 but the bearers are not moved rapidly enough for the preservation of the centre of gravity1 and so the animal is very apt to stumble and fall4 ,when in hand1 a horse goes as safely as is possible for that particular horse1 action and strength being considered4 ,what has been recommended above will not be accomplished perfectly when the rider mounts a horse for the first time4 ,it is the goal for which he should strive1 and when he has reached it1 he has made good progress in the art4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fa4--,,the ,,alertness ,,of ,,in ,,hand ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fb4--;,,in ,,hand ,,at ,,the ,,walk ,it is while riding at the walk that the rider may best obtain the seat and that ease and pliancy which is so greatly to be desired4 ,it also gives him a better opportunity of practising the various applications of his hands and heels than would be practicable in more vigorous movements4 ,a story is told of a certain master of the art1 who1 in reply to the question how long it would take for a man to acquire a good seat1 replied1 ,fifteen years at the walk4 ,if the rider pays strict attention to every detail1 maintains1 with occasional guarded relaxations1 his position1 and studies the effects of his application of the aids1 a liberal deduction might be made from the above estimate of the time required to acquire proficiency in the most important feature of horsemanship4 ,it is true that a man should1 and probably will1 learn something nearly every time he mounts a horse1 for art is long1 but an apt pupil should become a very good horseman1 without confining himself to the walk1 in two or three years1 and be able to ride fairly in a much shorter time4 ,it is not to be understood that a proficient should never let his horse go out of hand1 for occasionally it will be a relief to horse and man to be free from all constraint2 but this liberty should never be given to a leg-weary animal or upon rough or slippery ground1 or in descending steep slopes4 ,the ,italian riders1 in taking their horses down precipitous hillsides1 put the animals straight1 the horses closely united4 ,in the walk the rider will proceed in straight lines1 in circles and curves of varying diameters1 and in turns to either hand4 ,the pace should be even and regular1 and the impulses from the croup kept up so that the horse will not become heavy in hand4 ,the forehand will be kept light and the jaw pliant by light tensions upon the reins1 with occasional vibrations made by a play of the fingers upon the reins4 ,a very little practice will show what these vibrations should be4 ,in turning to the right the movement will be directed by the right rein1 its effects measured and restrained by the left rein1 while the outside or left leg of the rider will give an increased pressure against the side of the horse to keep the croup from swaying out4 ,the whole body of the horse should conform to the arc of the path followed4 ,in making short turns1 the horse should first be collected a little more closely1 and as soon as the animal enters upon the new direction it should be put straight and be ridden in exactly the same form as it had before the turn was made4 ,the turn to the left will be made in the same manner1--the left rein1 guarded in its effects by the right1 demanding the turn1 the right leg of the rider keeping the croup upon the path4 ,in bringing the horse to a halt from the walk1 the rider should close his legs against the animal's sides1 lean back slightly1 and raise the bridle-hand4 ,this will bring the horse to a stop in a finished manner1 with its hind legs under the mass1 ready to furnish impulses for further movements4 ,the tension upon the reins should then be relaxed and the legs of the rider withdrawn4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fc4--,,united ,,halt ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fd4--;,,in ,,hand ,,in ,,trot ,it is a rule1 without exception1 that when one rein or heel is applied1 the other rein or heel must be prepared to guard its effects from being answered in too great a degree4 ,the walk is a pace of four beats1 one foot being planted after another at regular intervals4 ,if the right fore foot comes to the ground first1 it is followed by the left hind foot1 then the left fore foot is planted1 and lastly the right hind foot4 ,then a new stride begins4 ,in every stride the mass is borne by two legs or by three legs2 just before a fore foot is planted1 its diagonally disposed hind foot leaves the ground2 at that moment the two legs bear the weight2 when the fore foot is planted1 three legs bear the weight4 ,by stride we mean the movement that covers the ground from the time a certain foot comes to the ground until it is again planted4 ,through moment photography we have gained a knowledge1 not only in every phase of the ordinary paces of the horse1 but practically of every movement the animal is capable of making2 and through the same medium ,i was able to explain1 for the first time1 the gallop changes1 which very important movement was previously not understood1 and was procured only by tentative experiments with each horse trained to make it4 ,when1 the horse having been in the walk1 the speed is increased1 a different movement of the legs must take place to keep the bearers under the centre of gravity1 and the diagonally disposed hind leg acts in unison with a fore leg1 when we have a pace in which the horse springs from one pair of legs to the other1 which gives the trot4 ,in the trot we have a gait of two beats1 as the horse takes the weight upon the right 7or left7 fore leg1 and the left 7or right7 hind leg after each spring1 going into the air as each pair of bearers leaves the ground4 ,the horse should be ridden in the trot in exactly the same manner as in the walk1 except that in the turns the horse should be more closely united between hand and heels1 particularly as the rate of speed is increased4 ,as far as the rapidity of the movement will permit1 the state of collection described as in hand should be observed4 ,in trotting or in galloping at great speed a horse must extend itself too much to permit any such condition of its forces as that indicated2 but if at sharp turns the flying horse is not somewhat brought together1 so that it may have the bearers under the centre of gravity1 as the mass leans inward1 a fall will probably result1 almost certainly if the horse be galloping with the outside legs taking the advanced strides4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fe4--,,the ,,prevention ,,of ,,rearing ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ff4--,,rearing ,,with ,,extended ,,fore ,,legs ,but the horse should not be put into the gallop until it has been drilled in the double bridle1 and has been taught the various forms of collection which prepare it for that pace2 and we shall hope that even the rapid trot will not be undertaken by the beginner until he is quite sure of himself at lower rates of speed1 or he will acquire faults difficult to remedy4 ,when an indifferent rider is in the habit of speeding a horse in the trot1 he almost invariably takes his weight upon his spine1 arches the body1 holds his arms stiffly forward1 loosens his knee contacts1 and has about the same security in the saddle that a bag of meal laid upon it would have4 ,to reduce the speed in the trot or to bring the horse to a halt from that pace1 the rider should close his legs against the sides of the horse1 lean back slightly1 and1 raising the hand1 increase the tension upon the reins until the animal answers his demands by reduced speed4 ,then the increased tension upon the reins is relieved1 and the legs of the rider withdrawn from the horse1 and the slower trot having been obtained1 the halt may be made from it2 in the latter case the animal should be first put into the walk1 and then brought to a stop as before described4 ,nearly every horse will shy if a bit above himself from want of work1 and many horses1 otherwise quiet1 shy habitually at some favorite object1 either flying paper1 a high wagon1 an automobile1 or some such thing4 ,if the head of the horse be turned away from that which offends it1 the animal may not only be made to pass it1 but it will not be nearly so apt to jump down an embankment or run into some other danger1 in its efforts to avoid that which caused its fright or pretended fright4 ,horses show much cunning in alarming a timid rider1 and such an unfortunate is unmasked at once4 ,some horses will endeavor to rub a rider's knees against a wall1 when they may readily be foiled by having the head drawn into the wall2 others will misbehave on slippery pavement2 others will refuse to go in desired directions4 ,indeed1 their mischievous tricks are so various that it is impossible to name them4 ,it is seldom that they even try these performances with a determined horseman1 and ,i have heard trainers say of horses sent to them to be cured of vices1 that they could find nothing wrong with the animals4 ,if a horse sulks and refuses to move1 sticking out its nose stiffly and spreading its legs as if to brace itself against being forced forward1 the rider should not resort to punishment1 as it is probable that the animal would retaliate by violent misconduct4 ,if the animal can be induced to move its croup to the right or left1 the rigidity will disappear and the forward progress be obtained4 ,i have known cases where the horse1 under such a condition1 has been made to go forward by being ridden into by another horseman4 ,a horse rears1 either because there is too severe a pull upon the bit1 or because it is in terror at something which faces it unexpectedly1 or through an acquired vice4 ,when a horse is about to rear through vice1 it almost always drops the bit 7that is1 the rider finds there is suddenly no tension upon the reins71 and then thrusts its head in air and tries to rise upon its hind legs4 ,if the rider sends in one of the spurs before the horse is balanced upon its haunches1 it will induce a movement of the hind legs which will bring the forehand down1 and the horse should then be pushed forward4 ,often a horse which is not very keen about it will make two or three weak essays before it goes quite up1 and just as it makes one of these little rises the prick of the spur is very effective in bringing the animal down and in a position that prevents rearing until it is again prepared1 before which it should be driven along4 ,but if the horse has already risen1 the rider must loosen the reins and lean forward2 and as soon as the forehand comes down1 he should drive the horse forward in any pace or action that it will take1 to procure better regulated movements later4 ,if the rider finds by a sinking of the croup that a rearing horse is falling backward1 he should release his feet from the stirrups1 seize the mane and pommel1 drop from the saddle1 and throw himself away from the animal as it topples over4 ,i have cured a horse1 apparently confirmed in this vice of throwing itself backward1 by a thorough course of suppling2 and it was afterwards ridden in various games and exercises which involved the pirouette1 but the reformed animal never attempted to rise higher than was demanded4 ,whether the horse falls back intentionally or not ,i cannot say4 ,but horses that have a habit of rearing so that they fall over are not rare4 ,in the far ,west those that fight the air are called sunfishers1 and none are more resolute or more dangerous4 ,i read somewhere recently that if a horse kept its fore legs bent and down1 it would not fall over1 but that when its fore legs were extended upward and fought the air1 it would come over on its back4 ,i have frequently seen rearing horses in both poses which did not fall and which had no intention of falling1 and ,i have had a horse throw itself over without giving me the preliminary notice of extending its fore legs in air4 ,the elder ,henri ,franconi's ,johnster and ,bayard1 and ,miss ,emma ,lake's ,bonnie ,scotland1 were well-known examples of horses which reared safely with extended fore legs2 the other mode is not uncommon1 but the horse does not usually rise to a dangerous height while the knees are bent4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fg4--,,rearing ,,with ,,bent ,,fore ,,legs ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fh4--,,rolling ,,up ,a ,,restive ,,horse ,should a horse decline to leave its companions or to go in a certain direction1 the rider should turn it around sharply three or four times upon the side in which he finds least resistance1 when the animal becomes so confused that it may be ridden wherever the man chooses4 ,this in ,germany is called rolling up1 and is often practised in the cavalry1 where every horse must be disciplined to leave the ranks singly--a very difficult thing to obtain in any other manner4 ,i have never seen the time when a safely trained horse of good disposition could not be found after a little search2 and it is very foolish for any one but an expert or a professional horseman to mount a wicked brute4 ,a really vicious horse will try the nerve of any man1 but fortunately they are not frequently met outside of the ranches1 and they become rarer as time goes on4 ,yet all of us have seen the young person of limited experience1 and even less skill1 who would boast of being able to ride anything and was desirous of dominating a bad horse4 ,every horse that is lively enough to make a safe and agile riding animal will become fresh and disorderly if it does not get work enough4 ,if it be not ridden sufficiently1 it should be longed on the cavesson rein1 or turned into a paddock4 ,the most careful riding master ,i have ever known--and in my wanderings ,i have kept my horses in more than a score of riding-schools--was accustomed to turn his fresh horses1 one by one1 for a little time into the ring1 and1 after some play1 the horses would be perfectly quiet for the most timid and inexperienced pupil4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #fi4--;,,closely ,,united ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gj4--;,,half-,,halt ,,chapter ,,ix ,,what ,,training ,,will ,,do ,,for ,a ,,horse--,,the ,,forms ,,of ,,collection ,a great deal of the neglect in training horses properly is due to the fact that most people--by very far the greater number--are deterred by the imaginary difficulties presented by the rules and by the practice involved1 and in consequence there is not one horse in a thousand that is even agreeable to ride4 ,the fact is1 there is no more difficulty in acquiring a knowledge of the rules of training than of the first three numbers of the multiplication table2 and the practice of them is far more pleasant and a great deal easier than the daily labor of buttoning one's boots4 ,owing to the changes in the centre of gravity1 due to the rider's weight and position1 the normal1 well-formed horse must be given an artificial carriage to enable it to bear the man in easy1 light1 and cadenced paces4 ,whether the rider is aware of the fact or not1 this correction always takes place1 usually through tentative and chance-directed efforts1 before the animal becomes safe and pleasant to ride4 ,horses that are ill-formed or awkward may be so greatly improved in bearing and action1 that their defects are nullified to such an extent that many apparently hopeless cases may be made very satisfactory riding animals4 ,all horses are benefited in carriage1 in disposition1 and in form by a course of schooling4 ,what can be done to correct physical defects in a horse by a short term of schooling would appear incredible to one not initiated in the art4 ,weak parts may be strengthened1 strong muscles may be developed from those that are deficient1 poor action may be improved1 and the general appearance and motions of any animal changed for the better by simple exercises1 which at the same time establish absolute discipline4 ,these changes are procured from suppling the horse4 ,by suppling is meant overcoming the resistances of the horse1 whether they be active or passive1 intentional or physical1 so that all opposition and rigidity are removed1 and the animal becomes obedient and pliant in every part4 ,if the reader will think of the forehand 7controlled by the reins71 and the hind quarters 7controlled by his heels71 as two parts to be brought to act together1 so balanced that neither extremity is embarrassed1 and the point of union and balance1 the centre of gravity1 is directly under the rider1 he will see how the horse may be made to move lightly and easily4 ,suppose the horse be low in the forehand and goes too much on the shoulders when in action1--a miserable condition of affairs4 ,the defects suggest the remedies4 ,the hind legs will be carried under the body to depress the croup1 the forehand will be raised and its forces carried to the rear1 until the weight and forces are brought to the desired point of union and balance4 ,or1 let us take the case of a horse high and strong in the forehand1 but low and weak in the hind quarters4 ,here the hind legs should be brought up to that point where1 without lowering the croup1 they have the greatest impulsive power1 and the forces of the forehand should be carried back only far enough to balance these inferior forces of the rear4 ,of course1 in this case particular attention should be paid to strengthening the loins and hind quarters by the exercises hereafter to be explained4 ,therefore1 if the horse goes upon its shoulders and hangs upon the hand1 the forces of the croup are too strong for the forehand1 and the latter part should be elevated while the hind legs should be carried under the body of the horse to lessen their effect sufficiently to produce balance in the extremities4 ,but if there be feeble and constrained action in the hind legs1 the forehand is too high and strong1 and the centre of gravity too far to the rear1 and this state must be remedied4 ,the power to effect the conditions described will be obtained by subduing all resistances2 the jaw of the horse1 and all those parts in front of the rider1 will be made pliant and obedient to the reins2 the hind quarters will be dominated by the rider's heels4 ,in the preceding chapter the condition of collection known as in hand1 the lowest form in which smooth1 even1 safe1 and regular paces may be made1 was described for the walk and the trot4 ,unless some closer form of collection is employed for one or another reason1 the ordinary gallop of three beats or hand gallop should always be performed in hand2 that is1 there should be such a collection of the forces that the pace is even1 steady1 and cadenced1 no undue weight upon the shoulders1 the crest curved1 the face of the horse about perpendicular to the ground1 the jaw supple1 and as a matter of course the horse always under complete control4 ,the trainer should ever bear in mind that whenever there is any disorder or misconduct the earlier lesson should be reverted to1 until the horse is absolutely obedient under all conditions4 ,when the horse has been habituated to maintain the state of collection known as in hand1 in the walk1 trot1 and gallop1 it should be taught the closer forms of union4 ,from time to time the rider should1 while in a slow but nimble trot1 bring the horse to closer forms of collection1 the heels maintaining the impulses1 the hand with vibratory plays upon the reins1 keeping the forehand light and lithe4 ,as the forces are more nearly brought to a point of union and balance under the rider1 the speed will decrease1 and when these forces of the extremities are absolutely united and balanced for a moment1 the half-halt will be produced1 when the horse is prepared for a movement in any direction4 ,but this half-halt may be held for only a moment1 while the muscles are in play1 and at least one leg is flexed1 or the horse will become heavy1 the feet will come to the ground1 and a complete halt will ensue1 when the tension upon the reins should be eased and the heels be withdrawn from the sides of the horse4 ,when the forces of the extremities of the trotting-horse are as closely united as is compatible with a forward movement1 any increased impulses will be turned into height of action under the body1 and the animal will seem to grow under the rider1 as with curved crest1 in which the quivering muscles prove the pliancy of the mass1 the horse goes from one pair of diagonally disposed legs to the other in a slow1 measured1 brilliant trot--the most beautiful effect possible to obtain4 ,these closer forms of collection may be produced in a very slow gallop in exactly the same manner as in the slow trot2 and the gallop in this case becomes one of four beats as each leg follows the other in regular intervals4 ,the half-halt may1 and should in practice1 be made from the slow gallop by a very close collection1 the union and balance of the forces1 and the gallop be renewed in some form immediately1 before the horse becomes heavy and the full halt ensues4 ,the half-halt in the gallop has a variety of important uses1 such as a preliminary step for making the gallop change1 for making the gallop wheels1 etc4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ga4--,,the ,,scratch ,,of ,,the ,,spur ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gb4--;,,halt ,,with ,,the ,,spurs ,,chapter ,x ,,the ,,spur ,baucher says1 somewhere1 that to give an indifferent horseman the spur is as bad as to give a razor into the hands of a monkey4 ,there is not one rider in ten thousand who knows how to give the sharp rowel1 or is aware of its true uses4 ,improperly and too frequently applied1 the spur makes the horse sluggish and never answers its real and full significance4 ,the rider's leg and heel1 or the sharp rowel when necessary--a rare occasion--gives the horseman control over the impulses which produce action1 and over all the movements of the hind quarters4 ,the sharp rowel1 indeed any form of the leg aid1 should never be given with a kick or a thrust4 ,the lower part of the rider's leg should be carried back until the scratch or prick can be given by the elevation of the heel4 ,to enable the rider to do this with precision requires much practice in the use of the leg below the knee1 so that even in violent movements he may be able to give just the effect the occasion requires4 ,the lower leg of the rider demands the forward movement1 demands the movement to the rear1 and that to either side1 and also the collections1 including the half-halt and the finished halt ,these results cannot be produced properly by a thoughtless or an unskilful use of an aid1 which should always be applied at the right moment1 with the right touch1 and in the right place4 ,for the comfort1 not to speak of the safety1 of its rider1 every horse should be taught to bear the prick of the spur without violent outbursts2 and this is more important for the poor horseman than for him who is skilful4 ,the most nervous animal may be taught to bear the application of the rowel with complacency1 and without such discipline it would be impossible to make the gallop changes1 and many other movements directed by the spur1 smoothly and uniformly4 ,on some occasion when the horse is going quietly1 it having previously been accustomed to the pressure of the rider's legs and to that of the sides of his heels1 the rider should carry a leg close to the flank of the horse and give a scratch with the rowel just behind the girths1 as he is making a turn or demanding a bend of the croup4 ,the animal should be quieted by caresses after this attack1 and then the spur should be applied to the other side in the same way1 and the horse be made much of4 ,in time both spurs should be used in bringing the horse to a halt ,the finished horseman can demand the most perfect repose from the most spirited horse by the use of this instrument4 ,used as directed1 the animal will not only be steady when the scratch is given1 but also quick and ready in obedience to the milder forms of the leg aid1 the pressure of the leg or of the side of the heel1 and it will be rarely the case that the more severe form will be necessary4 ,in riding my trained horses the rowels are removed from the spurs2 and ,i have had horses that were always free and lively in their actions and perfect in mange movements that had not felt the sharp spur for many years4 ,some horses will shut up and refuse to increase their speed when punished with the spur2 and in all cases its severe attacks are as useless as they are cruel4 ,to produce the impulses for movements forward or to the rear1 this aid should be applied immediately behind the girths4 ,there is an old ,french saying that a torn girth shows good horsemanship4 ,to bend the croup1 as in the side movements upon two paths and in the gallop changes1 the spur should take touch on the flank four or five inches behind the girths4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,,some ,,work ,,on ,,foot--,,the ,,suppling ,it has been said that the term suppling indicates the vanquishing of all the resistance offered by the horse1 whether voluntary or involuntary4 ,the control which this gives over the actions of the animal is produced by cultivating its instinctive yieldings to the application of the bit and spur until obedience becomes a natural impulse and the animal does not dream of opposition4 ,the lessons are given in such a manner that there are no struggles against restraint1 no fears are caused1 and there are no punishments to arouse animosity4 ,indeed1 any rough treatment will defeat the object of the trainer1 who requires nothing more than patience to insure his success4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gc4--;,,direct ,,flexion ,,of ,,the ,,jaw ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gd4--,,the ,,result ,for example1 when the bit comes against the horse's mouth1 the first impulse is to avoid the pressure and to yield the jaw2 the second impulse is to resist the confinement4 ,by the cultivation of the first instinctive yielding of the jaws the trainer obtains absolute control over the mouth of the horse1 and by successive exercises1 properly arranged1 over the whole of those parts in front of the saddle4 ,in like manner1 when the leg or heel of the rider is applied to the flank of the horse1 its first impulse is to move forward the hind leg of the side attacked1 and bend the croup over to the other side2 the second impulse will be to come against the leg or heel in resistance4 ,by cultivating the first impulse on the application of the spur the rider obtains control over all those parts of the horse behind the saddle4 ,so1 between hand and heels1 the man may obtain perfect1 because instinctive1 obedience from the trained animal4 ,beyond keeping on friendly terms with the horse1 and the avoidance of everything that would start its fears1 no trust is to be placed in the animal's voluntary dutifulness1 for what is desired may be demanded1 and the good-will of a horse is a very slender reed upon which to lean4 ,my horses know my footsteps1 and show recognition of my voice1 but ,i have never permitted their blandishments to lead me to trust one of them beyond control without finding cause for regrets sooner or later4 ,much of the work in suppling the horse can be done far more quickly with the trainer on foot than from the saddle4 ,indeed1 almost all the education of a riding-horse might be carried on without the trainer mounting at all1 and that very expeditiously2 the finishing lessons under the saddle would be required to transfer the indications of the whip to the rider's heels4 ,the handling that would be given by the trainer on foot would prepare the horse for anything that might follow1 and ,i have always found that the longer the horse was worked in hand1 the better were the results4 ,that is1 if the horse be longed carefully2 be driven before the trainer in a long pair of reins attached to a snaffle-bridle2 be taught to yield the jaw1 the head1 and the neck to the bits2 and be made to bend the croup and to bring the hind legs under the body at the application of the whip1 there will be very little left to do when the man mounts4 ,i shall now describe the least amount of work that the trainer should perform on foot1 as few men will have the patience to carry the system farther2 but as the principles are always the same any one who desires to try the experiment may readily carry on the training in hand to its utmost limit4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ge4--;,,bending ,,head ,,and ,,neck ,,with ,,curb-,,bit ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gf4--;,,bending ,,head ,,and ,,neck ,,with ,,curb-,,bit ,when the young horse--or any horse1 for that matter--is going well in the snaffle-bridle1 the animal should be given daily lessons in the double bridle 7curb and snaffle7 in the following manner3 the curb-chain being removed for the early lessons1 the trainer should stand at the head of the horse on the right1 or off1 side1 and take the right snaffle-rein in his right hand1 while the left hand grasps the two curb-reins at equal lengths under the chin of the horse a few inches from the bit4 ,then1 extending his right arm away from the nose of the horse and drawing the curb-reins toward the chest of the animal1 he will1 with just so much force as is necessary1 induce the horse to open the mouth and relax the lower jaw1 the head being held up by the snaffle-rein4 ,as soon as this is accomplished the tensions upon the reins should be released and the horse rewarded by caresses4 ,the snaffle must keep the head of the horse at the proper height1 for the tendency of the curb is to depress the head1 and the face of the horse should be kept about vertical to the ground1 certainly not any nearer the chest4 ,from time to time the trainer will release the tension upon the snaffle-rein and draw the curb-reins1 as before1 in gentle vibrations toward the neck of the horse to test the progress of his work4 ,when the horse curls the upper lip1 and the reins always find nothing more than a light1 elastic feeling upon the lower jaw1 the crest being curved and the face held perpendicularly to the ground1 the man will know that the object of his work has been accomplished1 and it remains for him to maintain this condition by constant practice until it becomes habitual4 ,if at any time the jaw becomes rigid1 or there is any resistance1 a return should be made to the exercises with the two bits1 as in the beginning4 ,it is a rule observed by all trainers that when a horse does not perform perfectly that which is desired1 to go back to number one1 the first lesson4 ,the same work should be done with the trainer standing on the left side of the horse1 when his left hand will hold the left snaffle-rein1 his right the curb-reins4 ,these exercises1 and those which follow1 should be given at least once every day1 twice or thrice will be better1 and each exercise should be followed no longer than for five minutes1 so that the horse may not be fatigued or annoyed by the monotony4 ,standing at the head of the horse1 on the right side1 the trainer should take a rein of the curb-bit in each hand1 near the branches1 and turning the bit in the mouth of the horse1 right branch forward1 bend the animal's head toward the left2 at first making a slight turn only1 and by steps increasing the bend until the face of the horse looks to the rear4 ,as soon as the head of the horse is bent sufficiently to satisfy the trainer1 he should take equal tensions upon the bit1 straighten it in the mouth of the horse1 and by gentle vibrations induce the horse to yield the lower jaw so that the reins shall find no more than an elastic feeling upon that part as the face is turned to the rear4 ,the horse must never be allowed to bring its head straight after this bend has been demanded1 but the trainer should quietly bring it back into the normal position by means of the reins4 ,in a similar manner the head of the horse should be bent to the right1 the trainer standing at the head of the horse on the left side4 ,after the horse has been habituated to bend the head by means of the curb-bit to the right and to the left1 its face perpendicular to the ground and its jaw pliant1 it will be made to do the same by the snaffle1 the reins of that bit held as were those of the curb-bit4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gg4--;,,carrying ,,hind ,,legs ,,under ,,the ,,body ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gh4--;,,croup ,,about ,,forehand1 ,,to ,,the ,,right ,these lessons1 in addition to those recommended in ,chapter ,,ii41 will give the man complete control over the forehand of the horse1 making the mouth light and compliant1 and developing and suppling the muscles of the neck greatly to the improvement of the horse in grace and in appearance4 ,two very simple exercises will give control of the hind quarters1 when the completion of the education of the horse will be a mere matter of repetition and riding1 as the discipline necessary for demanding instant and exact obedience will have been put in train4 ,to make the horse carry its hind legs under the body1 the man should stand on its left side facing the saddle2 then1 taking the snaffle-reins held under the chin of the horse at equal lengths in his left hand1 he should give some light taps of a slender whip upon the animal's croup1 preventing a forward movement by a tension upon the snaffle-reins4 ,at first the trainer should be satisfied when the horse brings its hind feet forward a few inches1 but in time the animal should by gradual steps be induced to carry its hind legs so far under the mass that the four feet might stand upon a handkerchief4 ,to transfer the indications of the whip to the heels1 the rider should mount1 and1 as he taps the horse on the rump with the whip held behind his back1 he should apply his heels to the animal's sides until the hind legs are carried forward sufficiently to satisfy his demands1 while a forward movement is prohibited by a tension upon the snaffle-reins held in the left hand4 ,gradually the employment of the whip should cease and the horse be made to carry the hind legs under the mass to any extent by the pressure of the rider's heels4 ,after the horse has carried its hind legs under the mass1 the man should release the tension upon the reins1 and by permitting the forehand to advance1 let the animal take a natural position4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #gi4--;,,croup ,,about ,,forehand1 ,,to ,,the ,,right ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hj4--;,,in ,,hand ,,in ,,place ,to make the horse carry the croup around the forehand1 the trainer should stand at the left side of the horse1 facing the saddle1 with his left hand he should take a grasp of the snaffle-reins under the chin of the horse and bend the head slightly away from him1 and with the whip he should give a light tap or taps on the side of the horse just behind the girth4 ,when the horse makes one step with the croup away from the man1 the forehand held in place by the snaffle-reins1 the whip taps should cease1 and the horse be rewarded by caresses4 ,another step from the croup will then be demanded1 and step by step the croup will be carried to the right completely about the stationary forehand1 the left fore leg acting as the pivot1 the right fore leg being brought forward to conform to the movement by light taps of the whip1 the head of the horse bent toward the advancing croup4 ,the horse must not be permitted to volunteer a step1 but every step should be made on the demand of the trainer4 ,in the same manner the horse should be made to carry the croup to the left about the right fore leg as the pivot1 the trainer holding the snaffle-reins in the right hand1 the whip in the left1 and standing on the right side of the horse4 ,it will be well for the rider to mount the horse in place1 at this stage1 and to conduct the suppling and bending exercises just described1 from the saddle4 ,that is1 from the saddle he should bend the head of the horse to either hand1 first with the curb-bit and then with the snaffle-bit1 bringing the head back to the normal position by means of the reins2 he should elevate the head1 and then by dropping the hand and playing with the reins bring the face of the horse vertical to the ground1 with the jaw pliant in answer to either bit2 he should induce the horse to carry the croup about the forehand to either side at the application of his heel1 enforced1 if necessary1 by the whip held behind the rider's back1 the outer fore leg acting as pivot2 and1 finally and frequently between the pressure of his legs and gentle vibrations of the reins1 he should unite and balance the forces of the horse so that by the working of the muscles under him1 as the horse arranges the bearers1 he may know that the animal is ready to move in hand4 ,,chapter ,,xii ,,the ,,curb-,,and-,,snaffle ,,bridle--,,guiding ,,by ,,the ,,rein ,,against ,,the ,,neck--,,croup ,,about ,,forehand--,,upon ,,two ,,paths ,if but one bit is used in riding1 it should be the snaffle1 for it has a much wider range of effects than the curb-bit1 and the latter1 when employed alone1 tends to lower the head of the horse1 and has other defects4 ,it is better1 however1 to have both bits1 as together they answer every requirement4 ,with the snaffle the rider may raise or depress the forehand1 freshen and relieve the mouth of the horse occasionally from the restraint of the curb-bit1 and counteract the defective action of the latter1 prepare the horse for obedience to the indications of the more severe mouthpiece1 and give many other results which will show themselves in practice4 ,the curb-bit gives more power to restrain the horse1 applies the pressure of the mouthpiece upon the proper place1 which the snaffle does not always do1 and by it the rider may more readily keep the nose of the horse down so that the face of the animal shall be vertical and thereby insure the right power upon the right place4 ,with trained horses ,i seldom draw the curb-reins1 for the animals are so drilled and so sensitive that the snaffle is nearly always sufficient but the curb-bit is ever ready to enforce its peculiar powers should there be failure on the part of the snaffle1 as1 for example1 where the horse throws forward its nose so that the snaffle takes a bearing in the corners of the mouth and so loses much of its power4 ,ordinarily the curb-bit is used in riding1 while the snaffle-reins lie slack1 to be brought into play when necessary2 and most horses1 and most riders1 require the curb-bit4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ha4--,,left ,,rein ,,against ,,neck1 ,,to ,,turn ,,to ,,the ,,right ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hb4--,,right ,,rein ,,against ,,neck1 ,,to ,,turn ,,to ,,the ,,left ,the man1 having mounted1 will take in his left hand the reins of the curb-bit divided by the little finger1 the reins of the snaffle divided by the long finger1 the loose ends of both pairs of reins carried through his hand and held by the thumb against the forefinger1 and draw the curb-reins until he can feel the mouth of the horse4 ,the right hand will be kept on the loose ends of the reins behind the left1 but when it is called upon to assist the bridle-hand it will act upon the reins in front of the left hand1 except in shortening the reins1 when it will draw them through the bridle-hand from behind4 ,then1 closing his legs against the animal's sides1 the rider should make gentle vibrations of the curb-reins by a play of his fingers until the pliant jaw and the working of the muscles under him show that the horse is ready to move in hand4 ,in this form of collection he should go forward in the walk4 ,to turn to the right he should bend the head of the horse with the right snaffle-rein caught in his right hand1 and carry the left hand in which are the curb-reins over to the right until the outer rein comes against the neck of the horse4 ,when the turn is begun1 he should drop the snaffle-rein1 and when the new direction is entered upon1 he should bring the bridle-hand in front of him1 so that there shall be equal tensions upon both curb-reins1 and resume a direct path4 ,in the same manner the turn to the left side should be inaugurated by the left snaffle-rein1 and the bridle-hand will be carried over to the left until the right curb-rein is brought against the right side of the neck of the horse4 ,this use of the curb-reins is called the indirect indications of the bit4 ,on straight lines the bridle-hand should be held just above the pommel of the saddle1 the thumb uppermost and pointing toward the horse's ears4 ,no great movement of the bridle-hand should be made in demanding the turn2 when carried over to the right1 the thumb should point toward the rider's right shoulder2 when carried over to the left1 the thumb should point toward the ground over the left shoulder of the horse4 ,by observing these directions the rein may be brought against the neck of the horse to give the indirect indications of the bit without too great movement of the bridle-hand4 ,gradually the employment of the direct snaffle-rein to inaugurate the turn will be dispensed with1 and the change of direction will be made by the curb-reins only as they are brought against the neck of the horse4 ,in the walk and in the slow trot the horse should be ridden in hand on straight paths and in circles of varying diameters to accustom the horse to that form of collection in the curb-bit2 and from time to time closer forms of collection should be demanded1 first in the walk and then in the trot1 until the half-halt may be produced and the advance be again made before the horse grows heavy4 ,whatever the form of collection1 the jaw of the horse must be kept pliant and the forces of the two extremities be kept balanced4 ,if the horse hangs upon the reins1 its hind legs must be brought under the mass to lighten the forehand1 and every movement should be light1 even1 and regular4 ,it is poor policy to put the horse into the gallop before its education has been brought to the point described in the preceding pages4 ,it is highly important that the horse should be taught a perfectly controlled gallop1 one in which every form of collection may be observed and in which the rider may demand the lead with either side and the changes of lead with precision4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hc4--,,reversed ,,pirouette1 ,,to ,,the ,,left ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hd4--,,on ,,two ,,paths1 ,,traverse ,,right ,the croup about the forehand1 or reversed pirouette1 prepares the horse for the movements on two paths1 for wheels in the gallop1 for the pirouette volte1 and for the gallop changes1 all of which are requisite in a thoroughly trained saddle-horse1 when the rider aspires to have mastery over every movement of the animal4 ,to make the horse perform the reversed pirouette1 the rider should bring it in hand in place4 ,then1 bending its head slightly to one side1 say the right1 he should apply his left leg to the flank and make the horse carry the croup to the right1 about the left fore leg as a pivot1 the bridle-hand keeping the forehand in place1 the heel of the rider demanding each step1 the right leg of the rider controlling the effects of his left leg4 ,in croup about forehand to the left1 the head of the horse should be bent slightly to the left1 the right fore leg of the horse acts as pivot1 while the rider's right leg induces the hind quarters to be carried to the left around the turning-point4 ,in the work upon two paths the body of the horse should be placed diagonally across the line of progress1 the forehand slightly in advance of the croup1 the head of the horse bent in the direction of the movement4 ,in going to the right1 the head of the horse will be bent to the right and the forehand be led along one path1 while the rider's heels carry the croup along a parallel path1 the effects of the acting or left heel being measured and controlled by the rider's right heel1 the forehand about two feet in advance of the croup4 ,in passing upon two paths to the left1 the head of the horse will be bent to the left1 the forehand being led to the left1 and the rider's right leg1 its effects measured by the left1 will carry the croup upon a parallel path1 so that the body of the horse shall be diagonally disposed across the line of progress4 ,in coming to a turn or on a circle1 the croup will be slightly retarded1 so that the diagonal position shall be observed everywhere on the arc or the circumference1 if the forehand be following the longer outer path4 ,but if in turns or circles the croup be following the outer longer path1 the forehand will be retarded so that everywhere on the arc or the circumference the diagonal position of the mass shall be observed4 ,the horse should be ridden on two paths in straight lines1 in turns1 and in large and small circles1 sometimes the forehand on the outer circumferences1 sometimes the croup following the longer paths1 in the walk1 in the slow trot1 and in the united trot4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #he4--;,,gallop ,,right1 ,,horse ,,in ,,air ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hf4--;,,gallop1 ,,hind ,,legs ,,committed ,,to ,a ,,stride ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hg4--;,,gallop ,,right1 ,,when ,,the ,,change ,,begins ,,chapter ,,xiii ,,the ,,gallop1 ,,and ,,the ,,gallop ,,change--,,wheel ,,in ,,the ,,gallop--,,pirouette ,,turn--,,halt ,,in ,,the ,,gallop ,until the publication of ,the ,horse in ,motion1 many of the movements of the horse were but little understood1 and of these the gallop was prominent by reason of its importance4 ,in these days1 thanks to the quick eye of the camera1 there is no action which the horse is capable of making that may not be clearly shown in every phase4 ,there are several forms of the gallop1 but the general principles are the same in all1 the variations depending upon the speed and the state of collection of the horse4 ,in the hand-gallop of three beats the horse goes into air from a fore leg used as a leaping-pole2 it then brings to the ground the diagonally disposed hind leg2 the other hind leg and its diagonal fore leg are then planted so nearly together that the hoofs give the sound of but one beat2 then the first acting fore leg comes to the ground from which the horse again goes into air in a new stride4 ,the horse is said to lead with the legs which are advanced in each stride2 if the horse goes into air from the right fore leg1 it is in gallop right1 as the fore and hind legs of that side are advanced beyond the fore and hind legs of the other side4 ,if the horse goes into air from the left fore leg1 it will be in gallop left4 ,in the full-gallop1 or racing pace1 the secondly planted hind leg is brought to the ground an appreciable time before its diagonally disposed fore leg1 and we have a pace of four beats4 ,the canter1 or lope1 is a pace of feeble action and of low form of collection in which the diagonal fore leg is brought to the ground before the second hind leg is planted4 ,in the school-gallop1 the most finished form of the pace1 the horse is so closely united that the secondly planted hind leg reaches the ground before its diagonally disposed fore leg1 and we have again a gallop of four beats4 ,it will be seen1 then1 that the galloping horse should be in gallop right in turning to the right1 in gallop left in turning to the left1 so that a hind leg will be under the centre of gravity as a bearer of the weight when the turn is made4 ,if a horse1 in gallop left1 be turned shortly to the right1 it will almost invariably fall1 for as the horse leans over at the turn there will be no support under the mass4 ,a horse at liberty instinctively changes the lead in the gallop as circumstances require2 but the mounted horse cannot be depended upon to make the change voluntarily1 and the rider should demand the change at the proper time4 ,before the appearance of ,modern ,horsemanship1 no one had described how the horse began the change in the gallop1 from right to left or from left to right1 or how it was performed4 ,dr4 ,stillman1 the only author who had touched upon the subject1 suggested that the horse changed the lead when in air1 but this was a manifestly incorrect supposition2 for the photographs show that the hind legs are always committed to a certain stride before the horse goes into air4 ,by riding trained horses in the gallop changes before the camera1 ,i discovered when those movements were begun and how they were made1 and ,i was able to explain how the aids should be applied to produce the changes2 for previously1 it had been a matter of experiment and tentative practice with each horse that had been taught to make the gallop change4 ,the loose explanations in the riding regulations of every army1 and even those of such authorities as ,baucher and others1 prove this assertion4 ,i am somewhat familiar with the writings of nearly all the authors of standard works on horsemanship1 from the days of ,grisone to the present day1 and ,i cannot recall a passage in any one of them that would indicate a knowledge of how the gallop change was made1 or one that gave a rational explanation of how and why the aids should be applied4 ,the gallop changes must have been successfully demanded from time immemorial1 but1 as has been said1 it was always considered a difficult performance to procure with certainty and precision1 and in many cases was made as a turn was begun1 the forehand beginning the change which would leave the hind legs false for that stride4 ,when the photographs proved that the hind legs were committed to a certain order before the horse left the ground in each leap1 it was apparent that the change must take place in the hind quarters as soon as the legs of that part were free to change their order2 and that the legs of the forehand must make a corresponding change when they were free1 when the gallop change would be finished in one stride1 without a false step4 ,to make the horse change1 say from gallop right to gallop left1 in any stride1 the forces must first be fairly united2 the right heel should be applied when the forehand is down1 and as the hind legs are leaving the ground2 immediately thereafter1 as the forehand is rising1 the left rein should make a slight play which will insure the change in the fore legs1 and the change will be completed without a false step and without any disturbance of the pace4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hh4--,,wheel ,,in ,,gallop ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #hi4--,,pirouette ,,wheel ,the change from gallop left to gallop right may be demanded in a similar manner1 the left leg of the rider and the right rein giving the indications4 ,the gallops previously described are those in which the pace is true1 the only forms in which lie ease and safety4 ,if the horse be in gallop right 7or left7 and turns to the left 7or right71 it is false in the gallop1 and may fall4 ,if the horse has gallop right 7or left7 in the forehand and gallop left 7or right7 in the hind quarter1 it is in the cross-gallop1 which is wrong1 and the error should be immediately rectified4 ,to make the horse take gallop right from the halt1 the walk1 or the slow trot1 the rider should first collect the forces of the animal1 apply the left heel1 and make a slight upward play with the right rein2 when given sufficient freedom1 the horse will start off with the legs of the right side leading4 ,gallop left will be procured in a similar manner by the use of the right heel and the left rein4 ,in a slow1 measured1 regularly cadenced pace1 the horse should be ridden in the gallop on straight lines and on circles1 the rider being careful that the horse is in the true gallop on the turns4 ,habitually the horse should be kept in hand1 but from time to time closer forms of union should be demanded1 until the rider can bring the horse to the half-halt and resume the gallop without struggle or disturbance in the pace4 ,in teaching the horse to change from gallop right 7or left7 to gallop left 7or right7 in the beat of the pace1 the rider should put the horse in a slow gallop and after a while bring the animal to a slow trot for a few strides1 and from that pace demand the gallop with the other side leading4 ,these trotting steps will be gradually reduced and be replaced by the half-halt1 in which the change should be made2 and1 finally1 disregarding the half-halt1 the rider will be able to demand the change in any stride without breaking the cadence4 ,in a slow1 united gallop the horse should be ridden on two paths1 on straight lines and on circles1 in exactly the same manner as in the trot1 the horse being in gallop right in passing to the right1 in gallop left in passing to the left1 the forehand slightly in advance of the croup4 ,the wheel in the gallop is produced by following a small circle on two paths1 the croup toward the centre4 ,when the turn is so short and the union so close that the inner hind leg of the horse remains on one spot1 we have the pirouette wheel1--a very important movement for the mounted soldier and a valuable one for many reasons to every horseman4 ,many forms of exercise adapted to disciplining the horse in various ways will suggest themselves to the rider4 ,as1 for example1 taking gallop right on a straight line1 bringing the horse to a half-halt1 making a gallop wheel1 then a change of lead1 and returning over the same path in gallop left4 ,or1 passing on two paths in gallop left1 coming to a half-halt1 changing lead1 and going off at a right angle in gallop right4 ,or1 riding in gallop to right 7or left7 on a single path on the circumference of a small circle and changing lead in the beat of the pace to go on a similar circle to the other hand1 making a figure #h without disturbing the pace4 ,with a little practice the trained horse may be brought to make a finished halt in any stride of the gallop without shock or danger of injury to the animal4 ,the rider1 to obtain this1 should accustom the horse to come to a halt from the walk1 in answer to the pressure of his legs and an increased tension upon the reins4 ,then the halt should be demanded in the same manner from the trot4 ,when the horse has been taught the various forms of collection in the gallop1 the rider may bring it to a halt in that pace by leaning back1 closing his legs against the sides of the animal and raising the bridle-hand1 at the moment the hind legs are leaving the ground4 ,the result of this employment of the aids will be to induce the horse to carry the hind legs simultaneously under the mass and so stop the advance2 and upon the release of the tension upon the reins the forehand will take a normal position and the halt will have been effected in one stride4 ,this position of the hind legs under the body of the horse gives an elastic bearing that will prevent any shock that might injuriously affect the houghs of the animal4 ,all carefully conducted training is assurance against strains or hurts to the horse1 and an animal that has not been schooled is far more apt to slip or in some way injure itself than one that has been taught to perform the most violent movements of the mange4 ,of the scores of horses ,i have trained1 not one ever threw a curb or a spavin while in my hands1 and all of them were the better in every way for the work they were called upon to do4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ij4--;,,backing4 ,,the ,,impulse ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ia4--;,,backing ,,chapter ,,xiv ,,backing ,the saddle-horse should go backward in the walk with the same freedom and lightness as that with which it advances in that pace2 and it should pass to either hand with precision1 the spur demanding the changes of direction1 the bits1 acting like a rudder1 guiding the forehand upon the path along which the croup moves4 ,a few lessons on foot greatly facilitate the teaching of this movement4 ,the trainer1 standing at the left shoulder of the animal and grasping the snaffle-reins under the chin of the horse1 should1 by means of a few whip taps upon the rump1 and the restraint of the bit1 make a fair collection of its forces4 ,then1 after the animal is standing quietly1 he should renew the whip taps upon the rump until a hind leg is flexed as if for a forward movement2 at this moment the hand should draw the reins toward the chest of the horse so that the raised hind leg will take one step to the rear4 ,the horse should be led forward for a few steps1 and be again collected4 ,in the same manner two or more steps to the rear should be demanded and the horse be made to advance while the centre of gravity is balanced and easily brought forward1 the horse being kept light and the impulses alert4 ,the steps to the rear will be gradually increased in number1 until the horse will back any distance evenly and freely1 the whip being ready to prevent too rapid a retreat1 and hand and whip maintaining the collection2 but the forward movement must always be demanded before a complete halt is effected1 and an impulse obtained before the horse is called upon to back4 ,the rider should then mount and bring the horse in hand4 ,by the pressure of the heels he should demand an impulse1 and when a hind leg is flexed it should be carried to the rear2 the rider's legs should then close against the sides of the horse1 the hand give freedom1 and the animal should be sent forward a few steps4 ,gradually the horse should be made to go to the rear for any distance1 every step being demanded by hand and heels1 the latter preventing too rapid or too irregular a movement1 the hand requiring the raised legs to be carried back4 ,to turn to the right1 the left leg of the rider should give an increased pressure1 and the right rein1 its effects measured by the left rein1 should give an increased tension upon the horse's jaw1 so that the forehand will follow the croup4 ,the turns to the left will be made in the same manner1 the right heel of the rider and the left rein exerting the greater influence4 ,in going backward in the walk1 the legs of the horse should follow in regular order1 but the first step to the rear should be made by a hind leg1 because the movement begins with an impulse from the croup2 and to insure this the animal should be collected before the movement is begun4 ,the horse should not be permitted to become heavy1 but1 by demanding a close collection1 every step should be light and easy1 and the balance should be such that the animal will be capable of going forward at any moment4 ,,chapter ,,xv ,,jumping ,a very useful apparatus for teaching the horse to jump cleanly and willingly is a little gate or hurdle1 about three feet wide1 made with three bars2 the lower one fixed at eighteen inches from the ground to bind the uprights1 which should be about three feet in height2 the other two bars being removable1 one to fit in slots two and a half feet from the ground1 the other to fit on the top of the uprights4 ,but of course any bar will answer the purpose4 ,with the upper two bars removed1 the hurdle should be placed on a bit of level ground and the horse led over the lower bar two or three times1 the trainer holding the snaffle-reins near the bit4 ,when the horse has been accustomed to walk over the bar1 the man should take the ends of the reins and let the horse cross in a slow trot2 this the animal will probably do in a leap1 when the man should bring it to a halt and reward it with caresses4 ,then the next bar should be placed between the uprights1 and the horse1 held by the length of the reins1 be brought up at a trot to jump the hurdle and rewarded for its obedience4 ,after a few lessons given with the two bars1 the third bar should be placed on the uprights and the horse be made to take the jump of three feet in the same manner1 being rewarded after each leap4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ib4--;,,jumping ,,in ,,hand ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ic4--,,the ,,narrow ,,hurdle ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #id4--;,,jumping ,,in ,,hand ,if the horse attempts to avoid the hurdle by running out at either side1 it should be corrected by a harsh word and brought back to make another trial2 and if it becomes stubborn and persists in its disobedience1 it should be given the first lesson of walking over the lowest bar4 ,whenever a horse shows a settled indisposition to do what is demanded1 the trainer should endeavor to get some little pretence of compliance and give up the work for the day4 ,for if the horse is not in humor for the work1 it is idle to persist4 ,when the horse is jumping in hand1 the trainer must look to it that the leaps are perfectly made2 that is1 that the horse rises high enough in the forehand1 and no higher than is requisite to enable it to clear the obstacle with the fore legs1 and that the hind legs are gathered sufficiently under the body to bring them clear4 ,should the horse not bend the fore legs to his satisfaction1 the trainer should touch the fore legs with the whip just below the knee as the horse rises2 and should the horse be careless in the action of the hind legs1 a whip stroke under the belly will make the animal gather the hind legs under its body4 ,after the horse takes the hurdle with perfect calmness when held by the snaffle-reins1 the trainer should accustom the animal to jump over the obstacle while on the longe-rein1 the trainer being then twelve or fifteen feet away from the hurdle4 ,then1 the horse being habituated to jump the narrow obstacle without reluctance1 rugs1 colored cloths1 or anything of the kind that might ordinarily alarm a horse should be placed1 first near the hurdle and then upon it1 as the horse jumps it at the length of the longe-line4 ,the trainer should then mount and ride the horse over the bar fixed at two and a half feet4 ,he should first take the horse up to the obstacle in a slow1 collected trot1 using the snaffle-reins1 and when the horse is by its momentum committed to the jump1 he should give it liberty to take off as it pleases and offer a light support as the forehand again comes to the ground4 ,if the horse does not flex the hind legs sufficiently1 a whip stroke behind the girths will induce it to bring the hind legs well under the body4 ,but as far as is possible the use of whip or spur as the horse jumps should be avoided1 and the animal should be mettlesome and lively when it approaches the obstacle1 and be ready to exert itself with a will4 ,the top bar should then be placed on the uprights1 and the horse be ridden over the hurdle now three feet high1 first in the slow trot1 then from the halt1 and finally from the slow gallop4 ,in the jump from the walk1 the trot1 and the slow gallop1 the rider should incline his body slightly forward as the horse rises and bend his body back1 more or less depending upon the height of the drop1 as the forehand comes down1--his feet carried to the rear1 so that there shall be no pressure against the stirrup to disturb the seat4 ,horses jump in all sorts of forms4 ,some horses do not rise until quite under the obstacle1 when they squat down1 go up almost perpendicularly1 and drop on the other side quite as suddenly4 ,others take off at a fair distance1 jump easily1 and land steadily4 ,the rider must be prepared1 however1 to bend his body in accordance with the movements of the horse4 ,in riding at a very high obstacle1 the horse should be slowly collected at a moderate gallop2 and when the horse has faced the leap1 the rider's hand should give the animal liberty to act freely1 and as it alights he should offer some support4 ,i think that nearly every work on riding warns the reader that one cannot raise the horse4 ,it is true that in the state of collection in which most horses are ridden it would take a block and tackle to bring up the forehand2 but what shall we call the pirouette1 the curvet1 the pesade1 or even the support the rider gives the stumbling horse so that a leg may be put under the falling animal1 but a raising of the forehand8 ,in jumping1 however1 the rider must not attempt to lift the horse2 he must trust to the instincts of the animal necessary to clear the obstacle and for the disposition of its bearers to secure safety in landing4 ,after facing the horse to the jump1 the rider should give the animal freedom of action1 not by making such a change on the tension of the reins as might bring the animal down1 but by giving his arms such play that the horse may extend itself4 ,when the animal alights1 it must find some support from the bit1 so that in case of a peck or of a stumble the forehand can rise until a bearer comes under the centre of gravity and saves a fall4 ,the bending back of the rider's body as the forehand reaches the ground is1 of course1 of great assistance in recovering from a misstep4 ,in taking low jumps at a racing pace1 the rider need not lean back as the horse alights1 for the momentum is so great that no change in the body of the rider is required4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ie4--;,,jumping ,,narrow ,,hurdle ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #if4--;,,jumping ,,narrow ,,hurdle ,sometimes1 even under such circumstances1 the expected consequences do not follow a mistake1 and it is astonishing to see how a flying horse1 encumbered by a man upon its shoulders1 may recover from a stumble4 ,but hurdle-racing is poor sport1 neither jumping nor racing4 ,when the horse will leap the hurdle willingly and perfectly1 it should be taken into the fields and put over fences1 ditches1 and streams4 ,most horses are at first timid in facing water1 but with a little care a horse may be made to attempt any obstacle that is offered4 ,in riding at broad water or at any wide jump1 the rider should sit down in his saddle and send the horse forward in a good pace so that the momentum will carry the mass over4 ,in ,great ,britain and in ,ireland1 in those countries where banks are sometimes the boundaries of fields1 the horses are taught1 usually by easy lessons in the cavesson or by being driven before the trainer in long reins1 to leap upon the top of the bank and from thence across the ditch4 ,the dexterity and cleverness with which these animals will poise themselves on the top of a slippery bank1 and the security with which they will leap from such insecure footing1 are things to be wondered at4 ,we are told that some hunters are taught to drive themselves forward by kicking back at a stone wall4 ,i do not dispute this1 but ,i can say that ,i have seen scores of hunters going over such obstacles1 and any displacement of stones or striking of the walls was manifestly accidental2 and that from a study of the actions of the horse1 the kick1 while in air1 would in most instances result in disaster1 for both fore legs and hind legs would be extended at the same time4 ,i have had horses kick out when jumping on the longe1 but the forehand would then be on the ground1 and a kick given at such a time would not benefit the jump4 ,the books say that in the capriole the kick to the rear is given when the horse is in air1 but the photographs prove that it is given after the horse alights4 ,in jumping for practice1 #d feet or #d feet #f inches should be high enough4 ,most horses enjoy jumping1 but they should not be asked to do too much1 for they readily take a dislike to the sport4 ,a horse should never be punished as it is about to make a jump2 the rider should sit quite still1 and he should avoid raising an arm as the horse goes into air1 as so many men do1 for the motion will distract the attention of the horse at a critical moment4 ,the standard of jumping has gone up so much in recent years that one hesitates to say where the limit will be found4 ,a friend of mine has kindly offered me a moment photograph of a horse of four years of age passing over the extraordinary height of seven feet one and three-quarters inches 7#g' #a74 ,i once asked a professional rider of long experience1 the son of a professional rider1 what advice he would give regarding a fall from or with the horse4 ,he said that in falling he always bent his chin toward his chest to save the neck1 and made himself as like a ball as possible4 ,to this ,i will add that the man should retain the reins in case of a fall until he knows that he is free from the stirrups4 ,horses used for jumping should have strong hind quarters1 sloping shoulders1 and good fore legs4 ,it must be admitted that some of the finest performers over high jumps have upright shoulders1 but the horses are good in spite of the defect2 and on the steeplechase course we often see broken-down blood-horses come on as winners1 but these animals are none the better for their injuries1 and are certainly dangerous to ride4 ,when a woman rides at obstacles1 her line should be on an arc to the right rather than to the left1 so that if the horse falls she will be on top of the animal and not pinned beneath it4 ,the design in giving the early lessons in jumping over the narrow hurdle is to habituate the horse to take what is offered it without running out1 for when it has been disciplined to leap an obstacle that could readily be avoided1 it will not look for means of escape when brought to face other objects4 ,my horses will cross over doubles1 in and out1 the reins hanging upon their necks1 and the obstacles no more than two feet in width4 ,in fine1 a well-trained horse will jump anything within its powers without urging and in the safest manner4 ,,chapter ,,xvi ,,general ,,remarks ,i am convinced that nothing has been recommended in this work that is not absolutely requisite in the proper training of the saddle-horse2 for the same general principles are observed in what are considered the simplest permissible military methods1 although they are not always attempted in the manner ,i have followed4 ,but even admitting that some of the work is useful only for its discipline1 to which ,i do not consent1 that would in itself be a sufficient reason for retaining it4 ,i have been told very frequently1 by readers1 that they have had no difficulty in understanding the instructions ,i have offered1 and ,i know that they should be easily carried out1 seeing that even now ,i train my own horses without assistance4 ,it is advisable for the man who wishes to train his own horse during rough weather1 to have it ready for the pleasant season1 to keep the animal in some public riding-school1 where he will have the use of the ring1 until his work is finished1 unless1 what is better1 he has some barn or other covered area where he may carry on its education in spite of frosts and storms4 ,it is important that1 once the work is begun1 there should be no interruption2 and in our climate ,i should say that ,april is the best month in which to begin with a young horse in the open4 ,during the summer1 the flies are so annoying that it is difficult to keep the attention of the animal2 and neither man nor horse is fitted in the extremely cold weather of winter for the work of training4 ,too much stress cannot be laid upon the importance of sufficient and frequent exercise for the avoidance of that nervous and excitable condition in the horse known as freshness4 ,of course1 a horse that has been thoroughly disciplined is much more readily brought under control than a young animal that has not yet been taught to obey hand and heel instinctively1 but even the old1 well-drilled horse may lose much of its training if it be not very carefully handled after a long rest with high feeding1 and it is far better to run no risk of insubordination4 ,the fresh horse may be considered as hysterical and sometimes temporarily mad2 even those which are most docile when in proper work become flighty with stall-courage1 and may bite1 kick1 or plunge when first brought into the open air after some days of idleness4 ,these freaks do not indicate a vicious disposition1 but vice may grow out of them through injudicious treatment4 ,longeing on the cavesson1 a run in the paddock1 or a brisk trot under the saddle will soon relieve this condition1 but when the fresh horse is ridden1 it should not be called upon for anything beyond a good1 steady pace until it becomes composed4 ,some jealous-minded horses are easily spoiled by petting1 and from too frequent indulgences at improper times in sugar and in such dainties1 and show a nasty temper when disappointed in their expectations4 ,these animals should be treated with uniform kindness1 but should not be taught to look for such favors every time the rider dismounts or approaches4 ,at regular feeding times the one who is to ride the horse may give it an occasional treat1 never when the animal is bridled1 for the bit must always be clean and smooth4 ,a kind word or a caress is sufficient reward for good behavior1 and a harsh word is the most effective correction that can be given4 ,the whip and the spur must be employed to enforce demands1 but these instruments should be used promptly and for reasons1 never for punishment4 ,for example1 if a horse hangs back1 or shows a disinclination to pass an object1 a smart rap of the rod will usually send it along2 but if there is a positive refusal1 repeated applications of the whip or spur will work great harm1 and the rider should obtain the desired obedience by some ruse which will have a lasting good effect upon the animal4 ,a moment's reflection should show the reader that a combined horse 7that is1 one suited for harness and riding7 is an anomaly1 for the first requisite in a saddle-horse is that it should have a carriage that is inconsistent with that to which it is accustomed in drawing loads4 ,there would be no great harm in putting a young horse in light harness for a short time to steady it1 but after its training for the saddle has been undertaken it should never bear a collar4 ,a horse that is habituated to harness cannot have light and balanced action under the rider4 ,the animal that is taught to throw its weight against the traces will travel upon its shoulders and be apt to trip when the weight of a man augments the defects of that mode of moving4 ,the day before this page was written a friend of the author remarked that a combined horse which had never made a mistake in harness had just given him a fall2 and a great number of such instances might be cited4 ,a poor rider may throw any horse1 and in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred a fall is the fault of the rider1 but it requires a good and careful horseman to keep old ,dobbin on his feet when the animal is taken out of the shafts and put under the saddle4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ig4--;,,hurdle-,,racing ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ih4--;,,high ,,jumping4 ,,mr4 ,,ashbrook',s ,,thistledown ,the only certain method of correcting the faults of a spoiled horse is to retrain the animal from the very first lessons in the cavesson4 ,in this manner discipline may be restablished1 but the animal will nearly always be disposed to revert to old tricks1 particularly so if it remains in the hands of him who has permitted the liberties which grew into vice4 ,some horses are ever on the lookout for opportunities of taking advantage of a timid or irresolute rider1 and such are out of place with him who lacks nerve1 and should be turned over to better horsemen4 ,when faults are due to incurable physical or mental defects1 it is useless to attempt to remedy them4 ,that much may be done by skilful work to render such animals less dangerous is true1 but the game is not worth the candle4 ,a horse that is ground-shy1 that is1 one which sees objects at its feet in a distorted form1 or that is subject to fits of terror or excitement1 is not suited to the saddle4 ,on the other hand1 it will not be difficult to find horses that will prove perfectly tractable and steady as long as they have regular work4 ,for years ,i made a study of the vices of the horse by taking such as had proved troublesome to see what could be done in the way of correcting various faults4 ,from my experience ,i think it may be said that all horses are amenable to discipline except those that are foolish or of such nervous conditions that they are in effect unmanageable4 ,the bolter was stopped by the spurs2 the rearing horse was cured by suppling2 the restive horse was confused and conquered2 the bully yielded to bullying2 but the fool horse took no degree4 ,the growing fancy for saddle-horses of large size1 because1 perhaps1 they are more effective to the eye1 is an evil1 for breeders will undertake to furnish such animals as are in demand at the expense of far more valuable qualities1 and the rearing of medium-sized1 active horses will be largely discontinued1 for the market rules the stock farm4 ,it is the experience of all horsemen that #ae hands is the limit of height for a perfect saddle-horse1 except under very exceptional circumstances4 ,when the would-be seller of a leggy horse asserts that it rides like a pony1 he recognizes the general superiority of the smaller animal and probably is in error regarding his own4 ,as a rule1 a horse under #ae is more active1 hardier1 and with greater stamina than one above that height4 ,it is quality that gives value to the horse1 and this is usually found to deteriorate in those of excessive bulk4 ,did not ,dickens remark that giants are weak in the knees8 ,in a previous chapter ,i have said that casting a horse by the so-called ,rarey system is not a sovereign cure for all vices1 and that ,i usually taught my horses to lie down without using any apparatus4 ,when a horse is so vicious that a man may not approach him without being attacked1 some artificial restraint must be resorted to and straps used to confine and throw the horse4 ,but with steady horses there are several modes for casting them without the employment of anything beyond the snaffle-bridle4 ,of course1 it is not necessary for an ordinary saddle-horse to be taught to lie down1 but a good horseman should know how to demand anything1 and a little superfluous knowledge may be handed over to some one who may have use for it4 ,a very easy way of casting a horse is for the man to stand on the off or right side of the animal and pick up its right fore leg in his left hand2 this he will carry back and at the same time draw the snaffle-reins1 held in the right hand1 to the rear1 until the horse comes down upon the knee of the right fore leg2 a pull upon the left snaffle-rein will then bring the horse over on its right side4 ,after some lessons given in this manner1 the horse will carry back the right fore leg at the application of the whip and be brought to the ground by the same use of the snaffle-reins as above described4 ,after a few such lessons the rider should get into the saddle1 and between the taps of the whip on the right shoulder and bending the head of the horse sharply to the left he can bring the horse to ground while he is mounted4 ,it is better for the trainer to avoid working the young horse when exposed to high winds1 as the animal is then so disturbed and easily irritated that it is difficult to engage its attention1 and good progress can hardly be obtained4 ,if on any occasion the young horse persists in refusing obedience1 the trainer will do well to obtain something resembling discipline and return the horse to the stable rather than enter into a contest which may be the source of much future trouble4 ,of course1 if an old horse is mutinous1 it should be at once controlled and brought to reason2 but except an occasional lark due to excessive high spirits from want of work1 a trained horse will not often be guilty of misconduct1 and even then it may be checked by hand and heel4 ,no one should ride a horse that has the habit of stumbling1 but sometimes the most agile of animals will step on a rolling stone or make a mistake through carelessness4 ,when a good horse trips and falls1 the rider is almost always in fault2 in the first place1 for letting the horse grow careless1 and secondly1 for permitting the animal to go down4 ,an active horse should never stumble badly when ridden in hand2 and if the rider leans back and supports the forehand until a bearer is carried under the centre of gravity1 it is seldom that the horse will fall4 ,many falls are occasioned by the horse being leg weary through overwork or from being ridden too rapidly at turns2 so that1 however the mark comes1 a broken knee is taken as a sign of poor or careless riding4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ii4--,,racking ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #ajj4--,,running ,,walk ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #aja4--;,,casting ,a ,,horse ,doubtless1 instruction was given in the art of riding by amateurs or by professed teachers1 from the time the horse came into use4 ,the earliest existing work on horsemanship is that of ,xenophon 7born #dcj ,b4,c472 then there is a hiatus until the ,italian ,renaissance1 since which epoch we have had many works on the subject2 but before ,xenophon's time1 and between that and the appearance of ,grisone's printed work in #aeej 7my copy1 apparently a first edition1 was dated #aefj71 we may be sure that there was no lack of writings upon the subject1 lost through the perishable nature of the form in which an author's labors were presented4 ,of the early works of this second appearance the best known are those of ,antoine de ,pluvinel1 equerry to ,louis ,,xiii4 of ,france1--a splendid effort1 published in ,paris in #afai1--;and that of the ,duke of ,newcastle1 published in ,antwerp in #afea4 ,but none of the works on horsemanship which appeared previously to that of ,baucher are now of any real value1 and the method described by the ,french master is the foundation of all that is good in any modern system4 ,,driving ,,hints ,,on ,,the ,,history1 ,,housing1 ,,harnessing ,,and ,,handling ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,,by ,,price ,,collier ,illi ardua cervix1 ,argutumque caput1 brevis alvus1 obesaque terga1 ,luxuriatque toris animosum pectus4 ,,introduction ,,introduction ,all games1 pastimes1 and sports worthy of the name are artificial work4 ,what our ancestors did because they must to live1 we do because we find that vigorous use of our powers1 physical1 mental1 and moral1 makes living more agreeable4 ,they rode and shot and fished1 walked1 ran1 carried heavy weights1 chopped down trees1 paddled canoes1 sailed boats1 fought wild beasts1 hunted game for food1 and drove oxen1 mules1 and horses because they had to do these things to live4 ,we do many of these same things4 ,we chop down trees1 paddle canoes1 sail boats1 run1 jump1 struggle against one another with the gloves or at football1 swim1 play golf and tennis1 ride and drive1 but we call it sport6 ,in reality it is artificial work4 ,because the environment has changed1 and we are no longer forced to do these things for a living and to live at all1 we now do them to make our own living more wholesome and agreeable1 and call these pursuits sports4 ,either because human life originally was safest to those who were most formidable at work and at war1 or because we are so constituted that we cannot live without exercise1 we still continue the physical exertions of our forebears under the name of sport4 ,the quality and the value of all games and sports may be tested and graded as to their respective value according as they develop in their patrons the qualities that hard work develops4 ,health1 courage1 serenity of spirit1 good manners1 good nerves1 tenacity of purpose1 physical strength1 were the reward of the hard worker4 ,those same qualities ought to be the aim of the good sportsman4 ,the moment trickery1 effeminacy1 babyism1 and unfair play become a part of sport1 the whole object of sport1 its raison d'tre1 vanishes4 ,sport1 therefore1 has ample excuse for being1 and deserves the support of all serious well-wishers of their fellow-men to keep it clean4 ,the more seriously1 then1 sport is undertaken1--the more nearly it resembles work1 in short1--the more completely it accomplishes its purpose4 ,it goes without saying that when sport absorbs the whole man it defeats its own aim1 since it is intended merely to supplement by artifice what has been lost by the changes in man's environment4 ,now that shooting1 fishing1 sailing1 sparring1 riding1 driving1 are not necessities1 we wish to retain still the good results of them for men doomed by the rearrangement of life to live more or less sedentary lives4 ,hence it is that books are written on these subjects1 that men may take them up seriously1 study them1 use their heads at them1 and thus get the best there is out of them4 ,the men who are best worth preserving are just the men who will give but a half-hearted allegiance to anything1 unless it asks much of them and makes large drafts upon their mental1 moral1 and physical energy4 ,to discover to man or boy1 therefore1 how much there is of training for his mind and his body in any form of sport is well worth while4 ,the more clear it is that a sport or game requires knowledge1 patience1 courage1 tact1 and endurance1 all of which make for success in everyday life1 the more likely it is that it will become popular among sturdy men4 ,the best of our sports and games are1 as we should expect1 the most difficult1 and require the most complete development in their patrons4 ,chess1 whist1 cricket1 golf1 fencing1 sparring1 riding across country1 hunting1 fishing1 have kept their place1 not because they are easy1 but because they are hard4 ,all these games have been played for centuries1 while the more childish pastimes and sports come and go1 and ping-pong their way to an early oblivion4 ,the subject of this book1 the horse and how to handle him in harness1 has not only the advantage of a sport requiring much knowledge1 and good physical ability1 and great moral self-control1 but it has the further very great advantage of teaching all who take part in it something of what is due to the welfare of the most useful animal in the world4 ,this sport not only develops its patron1 but in so doing makes for the development and better care of the most valuable helpmeet man has4 ,it is absurd to suppose that a man can be taught to drive without knowing something of the elementary things about the horse4 ,he may be put upon the box1 the reins placed in his hands1 and certain cut-and-dried instructions given him about stopping1 starting1 and turning2 but before he has driven five miles fifty things will occur to him that he will wish to know about4 ,a child with a box of colors and some sketches in outline can be told to paint this part red1 that part blue1 that white1 the other green1 and so on1 and there follows a picture of a kind4 ,but the painter knows how and why the colors are mixed1 and could never be more than an automaton if he did not study these things for himself4 ,a man on a box-seat with four reins in his hand1 who does not know how the horses in front of him are housed1 fed1 shod1 harnessed1 and bitted1 and how by evolution they came to be what they are physically and mentally1 and the relative positions of their vital organs and the bones of their skeletons1 is not and will not be a coachman of any competency until he knows something of these things4 ,no man can bit a horse who knows nothing of the inside of a horse's mouth2 nor can he fit him properly with his collar unless he knows the relative positions of the shoulder-blade and humerus2 nor can he see that his shoes are put on to fit him unless he knows something of the formation of his foot2 nor can he spare him fatigue and help him through his simpler troubles on the road1 or in the stable1 unless he knows something of the horse's physical make-up and the weak and strong points of him4 ,it is a great sport1 is driving1 and superior to all other sports in one respect at least1 in that it is the most useful of sports4 ,any improvement in the art of driving actually adds to the wealth of the world 7vide chapter on the ,economic ,value of the ,horse74 ,in this book we have begun at the beginning1 and the proper title of the book would be1 ,hints on the ,history1 ,housing1 ,harnessing1 and ,handling of the ,horse4 ,each one of these subjects would require a volume1 and volumes indeed have been written4 ,a complete bibliography of horse literature would number well on toward three thousand volumes4 ,in this small volume it is intended to suggest to horse owners the necessary lines of knowledge1 with something more than the elements of each4 ,the bibliography at the end of the volume offers the opportunity to go more deeply into any or all of these departments as taste1 fancy1 or love of the sport may dictate4 ,no one volume can do more than this1 and to each individual is given the opportunity to discover what he ought to know1 and the opportunity to supplement his knowledge according to his particular requirements4 ,for suggestions1 good counsel1 and valuable information ,i am indebted to many4 ,among them ,i must mention here ,r4 ,w4 ,rives1 ,esq42 ,frank ,k4 ,sturgis1 ,esq42 ,professor ,henry ,f4 ,osborn1 of the ,natural ,history ,museum2 ,william ,pollock1 ,esq42 ,theodore ,frelinghuysen1 ,esq41 ,captain ,pirie1 and ,fownes of ,london2 ,howlett pre of ,paris1 and his son ,morris ,howlett1 now of ,new ,york2 ,t4 ,suffern ,tailer1 ,esq41 late president of the ,new ,york ,tandem ,club2 and others4 ,they will1 ,i trust1 forgive my errors1 and take to themselves1 as they deserve to do1 the credit for such value as this small volume has1 in adding to the comfort of drivers and the welfare of the horse4 ,,driving ,,chapter ,i ,,economic ,,value ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,in dealing with the horse as a source of national income1 or as an opportunity for sport and pleasure1 there is little to be taught ,americans along the lines of harness-making1 carriage-building1 and other mechanical appliances for the comfort and best use of the animal4 ,but both owners of horses and their care-takers are often lamentably ignorant of the general history of the horse4 ,if one is to get most value out of the horse on the farm1 as a draught animal in city streets1 or on the road1 in harness or under saddle1 some knowledge of his past history and present value cannot be out of place4 ,the harness1 the bit1 the vehicle1 may be right1 but the head1 hands1 heart1 and temper of the coachman may be wrong4 ,to know how the horse came to be what he is1 and to know something of the kind of a machine that he now is1 will do much to explain his vagaries1 and even more to make his owner and user more patient1 more gentle1 and more intelligent in handling him4 ,you do not expect poetry from a blacksmith1 nor a fourteen-inch forearm on a poet4 ,you deal with men the more comfortably the more you know of their antecedents and training4 ,the same is even more true of this subject of horses4 ,it is not necessary that a man should be an experienced navigator or an off-shore sailor to enjoy a yacht2 but on the other hand there is no question but that the man who knows most of these matters gets the most enjoyment out of his boat4 ,it is not necessary to write books in order to enjoy them2 but the practice of writing adds an hundred fold to the enjoyment of other men's books4 ,it is not necessary that a man should be an accomplished palontologist1 and an experienced veterinary1 in order that he may take pleasure in his stable2 but some knowledge of these matters adds greatly to one's understanding of the proper treatment of horses1 and greatly1 too1 to one's stock of patience in dealing with their eccentricities and obstinacies4 ,mad men and mad horses never will agree together4 ,the horse is not an intelligent animal as a rule4 ,he is the only animal that loses its head to the point of its own extermination when not restrained and controlled4 ,he has no affectionate recognition of even his best friends4 ,your dog twists himself into extravagant physical contortions when you return after a month's absence2 your horse1 on the other hand1 is no more warm in his welcome than your saddle4 ,he is1 now that he has been so long guarded and cared for by man1 a pitiably helpless animal when left to himself4 ,the mere fact that the reins lie on the dash-board1 that he hears no voice behind him1 that he is free1 sends him off at a gallop--possibly to his own destruction4#a ,a certain politician from ,tennessee1 in describing a particularly erratic party leader1 said that he reminded him of a horse sold to a friend of his4 ,many questions were asked concerning the horse1 and finally the seller was asked about his gaits4 ,after some hesitation he finally drawled1 ,well1 ,i guess his natural gait is running away6 ,this is true of practically all horses1 and it is because he is so well known to man and so useful to man1 and because he is amongst the animals the greatest pleasure giver to man1 that some knowledge of his ancient and modern antecedents and training is desirable4 ,america is the home of the horse in more senses than one4 ,we have more money invested in horse-flesh than any other country in the world4 ,a very conservative estimate of the value of the horses in this country is something over #a1jej1ifi1jic4 ,scientific men tell us1 too1 that the first horses were natives of this country4 ,the prehistoric horse of ,america probably wandered across ,behring's ,strait to ,europe1 ,africa1 and ,asia at a time when that passage was dry land4 ,though the earliest travellers to1 and the first settlers in1 ,america found no horses here1 there is no doubt that the horse originated on this continent4 ,why the horse disappeared entirely from this continent for a long period of time1 while flourishing particularly in ,africa and ,asia as well as in ,europe1 is one of the mysteries that science has not explained4 ,whether the ice age destroyed them1 or a plague or flood swept them away no one knows4 ,two facts are well known3 the first is that the oldest remains of the horse are found in this country2 the second is that when ,columbus touched at what is now ,san ,domingo in #adic he brought with him horses1 animals that for thousands of years had not been seen here4 ,in four hundred years we have become the largest owners and users of horses in the world4 ,our agricultural supremacy is due in great part to our use of horse-power in our fields and farms4 ,our superiority in this respect may be seen at a glance by a comparison of the number of horses in the leading ,european countries and our own4 ,it is to be noted that in many cases these figures comprise1 not merely the number of horses on farms1 but the total number in the country4 ,for the ,united ,states the number given is for horses on farms only4 ,,country ,,date ,,number ,great ,britain #aija #a1eaa1dca ,ireland #aija #dia1chj ,british ,india #aijj #a1cdc1hhj ,australia #aijj #a1ibb1ebb ,argentine ,republic #aijj #d1ddg1jjj ,austria #ahii #a1gaa1jgg ,hungary #ahie #b1cjh1deg ,france #aijj #b1ijc1jfc ,germany #aijj #d1ahd1jii ,italy #ahij #gjb1cij ,japan #aijj #a1edg1afj ,russia1 including ,siberia #ahih #be1ced1jjj ,united ,states #aijj #ba1baf1hhh ,iowa1 ,illinois1 and ,texas have each almost as many horses as ,great ,britain1 and these three states alone have more horses between them than any foreign country except ,russia4 ,these figures do not include the mules which are more extensively used here than in any other country4 ,including1 with the horses1 mules1 and asses on farms1 those not on farms1 it is probable that the ,united ,states has more work animals than even the ,russian ,empire1 ,siberia included1 with a population exceeding that of the ,united ,states by many millions4 ,the horse-power1 including mules1 on ,american farms is at least six times that of ,germany2 twelve times that of ,great ,britain and ,ireland2 eight times that of ,france2 thirty times that of ,italy2 and six times that of ,austria and ,hungary combined4 ,this difference in horse-power on ,american farms gives us a great advantage over other countries--so great an advantage indeed that our competition affects land values in ,europe1 and is gradually forcing a readjustment of the industries of the world4 ,it is estimated that we have invested in horse-flesh in this country #a1jej1ifi1jic4 ,in #aija we exported #hb1bej horses1 while in #ahia we exported only #caaj1 and the number of horses increased from #d1ccg1jjj in #ahej to #af1ife1jjj in #aijj4 ,since #ahej the number of farms has increased #bif4a per cent2 acres of improved land #bfg4j per cent2 and of horses #bia4b per cent1 which seems to show that despite the increased use of machinery the horse is still a necessity in agriculture4 ,what could be gained economically by the intelligent breaking1 breeding1 shoeing1 feeding1 harnessing1 bitting1 driving1 and handling of horses in this country is not easily calculable4 ,the difference in the amount of work one horse can do when he is properly stabled1 fed1 harnessed1 and driven1 multiplied by millions1 gives one some idea of the economic utility of such knowledge4 ,it is well known that good roads add enormously to the availability of agricultural land and has a notable effect upon the cheapening of farm products4 ,the first men to agitate for good roads1 and they who do most to see that good roads are provided1 are the users of horses4 ,one might indeed write a telling chapter of eulogy on the horse1 if one gave him the credit due him1 for bringing about the cheapening of products necessary to the comfort and pleasure of mankind4 ,this whole subject of the care of the horse takes on a new aspect when it is looked at with these figures in mind4 ,books on driving1 riding1 and the like should be classed1 not merely with books of sport and pleasure1 but with scientific and economic treatises4 ,we are a nation with over a billion dollars invested in equine machinery4 ,it is an absurd misunderstanding of the subject to look upon the time1 money1 and intelligence devoted to the driving1 bitting1 and harnessing of horses as so much time1 money1 and intelligence devoted to a sport of the rich and fashionable4 ,if we had a steel plant1 or a coal company with #ajj1jjj1jjj invested therein1 no investigation would be too minute1 no saving of labor here1 no improvement there1 and no supervision would seem out of place in adding to the economy and efficiency of such an aggregation of capital4 ,the man who can bit1 harness1 and drive four horses1 or two horses1 comfortably to himself1 and to his horses1 is adding just so much to the understanding of a subject which is of practical bread-and-butter interest to every man1 woman1 and child in the ,united ,states4 ,every ounce more of work that a horse can be harnessed to do1 every practical hint that the master of horses can be induced to apply1 every yard of road that can be improved1 take something off the cost of everything we eat1 drink1 or wear4 ,to put a coach on the road for a few weeks in the spring1 to turn out a well-mannered pair for a lady's phaeton1 to temper the disposition of two horses so that they bowl along pleasantly in a tandem1 may at the first blush seem to be merely the idle vagaries of the unemployed rich4 ,as a matter of fact1 the knowledge and patience required in these exercises percolates through all classes of horse owners1 and produces a marked effect from the utilitarian standpoint4 ,we of the large cities1 with steam and electricity as our daily servants of locomotion1 ignore the twenty odd million agricultural machines in this country that are helping to feed and clothe us1 and get to look upon the horse as merely the fashionable physician's prescription for the liver1 under saddle2 or a fashionable appendage of wealth1 when in harness4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,i4--,,protorohippus ,earliest known species of horse1 eleven inches high1 with four complete toes1 and remainder of fifth on fore feet1 and three on hind feet ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,ii4--,,development ,,of ,,horse',s ,,foot ,,from ,,five ,,toes ,,to ,,one ,in forty years we have increased from #cc1jjj1jjj to #hb1jjj1jjj in population2 from #agd1jjj1jjj to #hgc1jjj1jjj in agricultural products exported2 from #b1jjj1jjj to #f1jjj1jjj farms2 from #h1ejj1jjj1jjj to #bb1jjj1jjj1jjj total value of farm property2 from #a1ejj1jjj1jjj to #d1ejj1jjj1jjj annual value of farm products2 from #a1bej1jjj1jjj to #b1ejj1jjj1jjj total value of farm animals1 and from #ag1jjj1jjj1jjj to #ajj1jjj1jjj1jjj total national wealth4 ,in this progress the horse has played a very large part1 and1 contrary to the general and ignorant opinion1 the horse still maintains his place as the most valuable piece of all-round useful machinery in the world4 ,one has merely to note the way in which this valuable partner of our national prosperity is stabled1 groomed1 harnessed1 and handled to excuse the writing of any number of books1 and the persistent hammering away upon this subject4 ,sport and athletics are serious subjects because they are so vitally important to the physical comfort of man2 and this branch of sport which deals with the horse1 is of surprisingly vital interest to the nation when one comes to investigate it4 ,the cruelty1 impatience1 and ignorance displayed by the great majority of horse-steerers--they are nothing more nor less than that--are apparent wherever we turn4 ,not only the shockheaded ,mic,mac who tools the grocery wagon about our crowded streets2 not only the ,sunday boy who indulges his ,rowena in an hebdomadal picnic on wheels2 but the hundreds of so-called coachmen who drive the high-priced horses of their masters in reins1 bits1 head-stalls1 and collars fitted without discrimination upon any horse that comes into the stable1--all alike are in dire need of learning how to make the most of their opportunities4 ,it is not to be expected that every man who owns1 or handles1 a horse should be a veterinary1 but the elementary principles of harnessing and bitting a horse so that he can do his work comfortably ought to be required of every one who1 either for his own pleasure1 or for hire1 has anything to do with horses4 ,such an one ought to know how he came to have his present teeth and legs1 his present mouth and small stomach1 which reveals at once the secret of many of his weaknesses and their proper care4 ,not to know1 or to care to know1 any of these things is to lessen the value of your horses as work-horses very materially1 and to deprive yourself of the best part of the pleasure of dealing with your horses1 if you have them and handle them merely for sport4 ,,footnote3 #a ,the average number of times the brain is heavier than the spinal cord1 which is a fair measure of intelligence in certain animals1 is as follows3-- ,in man #cc4jj ,in dog #e4ad ,in pig #b4cj ,in cat #c4ge ,in horse #b4bg ,in ass #b4dj ,in ox #b4ah ,,chapter ,,ii ,,the ,,natural ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,it is a curious phase of the history of the horse in this country that the ancestors of the horse once lived in this country in large numbers1 and then entirely disappeared4 ,the ancestry of the horse has been traced back some three millions of years1 and through that period practically every step of change1 from the little five-toed whippetlike animal1 to the ,percheron or thoroughbred of to-day1 can be illustrated by actual fossil remains4 ,the most complete collection of fossil remains of the horse1 and the best illustrations of the different phases of his development1 anywhere in the world1 are in our ,museum of ,natural ,history in ,new ,york4 ,when the remains of the prehistoric horse were first discovered1 so little was known on the subject1 that the great naturalist1 ,richard ,owen1 called him the ,hyracotherium or ,hyrax-like ,beast1 referring to the coney of ,scripture1 little suspecting that there had been discovered in this ,hyracotherium the fossil remains of the horse of millions of years ago4 ,in the ,jardin d',acclimatation in ,paris there are two little horses at the present time each measuring under #bd inches at the withers4 ,this little animal was first provided with the flat1 spreading1 five-toed foot suitable to the low-lying and marshy land in which he lived4 ,his teeth and mouth1 and shorter neck and jaw1 were adapted to the softer and more luxuriant herbage of that time and place4 ,as the water left the earth1 this little animal gradually adapted himself to the harder ground1 the less luxuriant vegetable growth and the necessities of the situation1 which required that he should travel farther for his nourishment1 and that he should travel faster1 to escape his enemies4 ,pounding along on the plateaux1 which became his natural habitat1 he lost one toe after another1 first from his hind feet1 because they do the most work in propelling him1 and then from his front feet4 ,his neck and jaw grew longer as he was obliged to reach lower and lower down to bite off the wiry grasses of the plain4 ,in short1 the horse's foot and leg are developed from the short1 slender leg and cushioned foot of1 say1 something resembling the foot and leg of a delicate-limbed tapir to its present form4 ,compared with a man's hand1 for example1 the horse's knee is represented by the human wrist2 the hairless spot of skin with its cushion beneath--fatty cushion of the fetlock--represents the prominence behind the root of each finger opposite the knuckles2 and the hoof itself represents the nail of the middle finger of man4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,iii4--,,neohipparion ,intermediate stage in development of the horse1 being about three feet high1 and having three complete toes ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,iv4--,,skull ,,of ,,horse ,,eight ,,years ,,old ,showing long crowns of teeth ,there are other patches of callous skin1 sometimes called chestnuts or mallenders1 which appear2 that on the fore leg is above the wrist joint or knee1 that on the hind leg below the ankle or hock joint4 ,these1 however1 are still puzzles to the scientists1 although in an old book on the horse1 by ,youatt1 he speaks of them as diseases and prescribes remedies for their cure4 ,huxley maintained that the theory of evolution pointed to the five-toed horse1 and he stoutly insisted that the fossil remains of such an animal would some day be discovered1 and sure enough we now have in ,new ,york ,city the fossil remains of these prehistoric horses1 carrying out1 even in minute detail1 the steps of development he had outlined4 ,there is the horse with four toes 7,plate ,i471 then the horse with these toes grown shorter1 until they hang above the ground1 and finally disappear altogether4 ,where the horse is left in a state of nature1 free to choose the ground over which he will run1 the hoof grows just in proportion as it is worn away1 and maintains itself without artificial means1 in perfect condition4 ,on the other hand1 where the horse is turned out on low-lying and moist land1 his feet grow to great length4 ,this is the case1 for example1 in the ,falkland ,islands1 where the whole surface is soft1 mossy bog-land2 and here the horses' feet grow to be twelve and fourteen inches in length and curl up in various ways1 so that the animals can hardly walk upon them4 ,the nails on the fingers and toes of man1 if not shortened by abrasion from rough1 manual labor1 or cut and filed artificially1 will grow to great length1 and as they grow1 curl inward and around the tips of the fingers and toes1 attempting to form1 what the toe-nail of the horse has formed1 a hoof4 ,man himself1 who has recently taken to walking in a proud manner1 only upon his hind legs1 reserving his fore legs for painting1 writing1 gesticulating1 and feeding himself1 is also gradually losing the toes off his hind feet1--in many persons the little toe being already almost nothing more than a short and useless stump4 ,when you run your fingers down the fore legs of a horse you may feel distinctly two of his toes tucked away under the skin1 and now known as the splint bones4 ,where horses are used continuously to work on hard roads1 this toe-nail or hoof wears itself away faster than it grows1 hence the necessity for shoes4 ,it is this evolution from a five1 and then a four toed animal1 to an animal that walks on the nail of the middle toe1 which makes the legs and the feet of the horse such a very delicate and difficult problem to the horse owner 7,plate ,,ii474 ,it cannot fail to be of value and interest to every one who deals with horses to trace their development as they increase in stature1 and in brain1 and with greater and greater complexity of teeth2 at the same time that the number of toes decreases1 according to the law which rules that the fewer the toes1 the greater the speed2 the swiftest bird being the ostrich and the fastest mammal the horse 7,plate ,,iii474 ,the teeth of the earliest prehistoric horses were short-crowned and covered with low1 rounded knobs of enamel1 like the teeth of monkeys1 or pigs1 or other omnivorous animals1 and entirely different from the grinders of the horse of to-day4 ,along with the development of the legs and feet of the horse1 from an animal destined to live in marshy and forest ground1 to an animal obliged to take care of itself in open1 grassy plains1 came a corresponding change in the teeth1 from short-crowned1 to long-crowned 7,plate ,,iv471 enabling the animal to live on the hard1 dry grasses which require thorough mastication1 before they are of use as nutritious food4 ,the teeth of the modern horse are1 perhaps1 the most perfect grinding battery that could be devised4 ,there is an external layer of enamel1 and a second inner ring of enamel around the pit of the tooth1 and these grinding one upon and across the other1 as the horse chews1 make a most effective crusher and masticator of his food4 ,the incisor teeth of the horse have all the great peculiarity1 not found in the teeth of any other mammal1 and only in the ,equid of comparatively recent geological periods1 of an involution of the external surface of the tooth1 by which what should properly be the apex1 is carried deeply into the interior of the crown1 forming a pit1 the bottom of which becomes partially filled up with cement4 ,as the tooth wears1 the surface1 besides the external enamel layer as in an ordinary1 simple tooth1 shows in addition a second inner ring of the same hard substance surrounding the pit1 which1 of course1 adds greatly to the efficiency of the tooth as an organ for biting tough1 fibrous substances4 ,this pit1 generally filled with particles of food1 is conspicuous from its dark color1 and constitutes the mark by which the age of the horse is judged1 as1 in consequence of its only extending to a certain depth in the crown1 it becomes obliterated as the crown wears away1 and then the tooth assumes the character of that of an ordinary incisor1 consisting only of a core of dentine1 surrounded by the external enamel layer4 ,it is not quite so deep in the lower as in the upper teeth4 ,between the canines and premolars is a space called the bars of a horse's mouth4 ,it is here that the bit is placed1 and not a few horsemen believe that this space in the horse's mouth has been gradually worn away by the use of bits until now it has become a regular bit-socket produced by the constant use of the horse by man4 ,this is only one of the many absurd beliefs of the equinely wise in their generation4 ,this space is no doubt the result of the lengthening of the jaw and head of the horse to reach his food4 ,as his legs grew longer1 placing him farther and farther above the ground1 his neck grew longer and his jaw lengthened1 and lengthened at a place where the grinding muscles would not interfere4 ,the incisor teeth1 three below and three above1 developed more and more into effective nippers1 and the premolars and molars into grinders of the most delicately complicated and complete kind4 ,it must not be supposed that this outline of the evolution of the horse is part patchwork and part surmise4 ,on the contrary1 the history of the evolution of the horse is the best-known illustration--and has been worked out with greater detail and success than any other example--of the doctrine of evolution by natural selection and adaptation to environment4 ,the skull of a man and the skull of a horse are composed of exactly the same number of bones1 having the same general arrangement and relation to each other4 ,not only the individual bones1 but every ridge and surface for the attachment of muscles and every hole for the passage of artery or nerve seen in one1 can be traced in the other4 ,the difference is mainly in this3 in man the brain-case is very large and the face relatively of very small proportions2 while in the horse the brain is very much reduced1 and the face1 especially the mouth1 of great size4 ,one can readily recall types of both animals where these differences sink to insignificance4 ,even the man who is least interested in the ancestry of the horse cannot fail to see that the horse of to-day is the result of thousands of years of adaptation to his environment4 ,his legs grew longer that he might go faster2 his feet grew harder and encased themselves in a hoof2 his head and neck grew longer that he might the more easily get his natural food2 his teeth adapted themselves to the nipping1 grinding1 and mastication of that food2 his bones1 muscles1 intestines1 lungs1 stomach1 and general conformation inside and out1 developed along the lines that have brought him to the point where he is far and away man's most useful sidepartner amongst all animals4 ,these matters are worth keeping in mind when you look over a horse with a view to his purchase4 ,so far as your purse permits1 you want the horse best adapted to your requirements4 ,as you look him over1 you have at least an intelligent notion of what you may expect from his past history and the points of the animal which indicate that he will bear out those expectations4 ,let us suppose you want a harness horse for all-round work1 one that will go single1 double1 or in a makeshift four4 ,it is not required that he trot in #b4aj1 nor that he be able to be one of four to pull a loaded coach ten miles an hour4 ,first of all1 he must see4 ,next he must have legs and feet to go on4 ,then he must have room for a furnace inside of him1 to furnish the propelling force for those legs2 and the more intelligence he has1 and the more good-natured he appears1 the better4 ,later1 some of the more prominent good points and bad points of the horse will be noticed in detail1 but it is as well to say at the start that the horse-dealer1 or your most horsy friend1 or the veterinary1 avail little to find you the perfect horse4 ,all that reading1 study1 and experience can do is to avoid the worst faults1 to keep in mind the salient good points1 and then to make the very most of your purchase by care and training after he is your property4 ,you may learn the good and bad points of a horse by heart and be as a babe in the hands of a clever horse-seller1 whether he be professional or amateur4 ,he knows the weaknesses1 and also the good points1 of what he has to sell1 and you do not2 and there are very few ,launcelots in the horse business4 ,we have all bought horses of a shrewd dealer and sold them again for five times what we paid2 we have also bought horses and gladly disposed of them for one-fifth of the purchase price4 ,the main trouble in the whole matter is that buying and selling horses is looked upon by many people as either necromancy or thievery4 ,it is neither4 ,study1 intelligence1 and experience are as necessary and as valuable in choosing a horse as in any other department of life1 and in the end are just as valuable4 ,art critics have been fooled2 book-worms have been deceived2 lovers have been disappointed2 financiers have gone into bankruptcy2 educated men have been failures2 but study1 intelligence1 and experience still rank high1 none the less4 ,it is possible that in this matter of choosing a horse the aleatory instinct in man comes to the fore and he is apt to think luck plays too great a part1 but1 aside from that1 much the same qualities succeed here as elsewhere4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,the ,,early ,,days ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,,in ,,america ,why the horse1 the fossil remains of which are found so abundantly in the middle ,west of this country that these places are known in the ,scientific world as ,equus ,beds1 became extinct1 there being no horses here at the time of the ,spanish ,conquest1 is a mystery4 ,it is the more remarkable1 for when the horse was introduced here and ran wild in ,south ,america and ,texas1 he increased and multiplied rapidly1 showing that the climate1 food1 and general conditions were exceptionally well adapted to him4 ,various animals have been used as beasts of burden1 and even as cavalry1 all over the world4 ,in the old days of ,cape ,town1 the ,hottentots broke their oxen to the saddle and used them even for cavalry purposes in time of war4 ,in a report of the ,treasurer-general of ,peru1 written in #aedd1 it is stated that the ,spaniards even in those days used the large sheep or llama of that country both as beasts of burden and to ride4 ,the first importation of horses into the new world1 credited by authentic history1 was made by ,columbus in #adic1 when he landed in what is now known as ,san ,domingo with seventeen vessels4 ,when ,cortes landed at what is now known as ,vera ,cruz1 having sailed thither from ,cuba1 he had with him the first horses that any man had ever seen in the ,western hemisphere1 and this was in #aeai4 ,the ,indians thought these visitors were from the sun1 and that the horses were fabulous creatures of incomparable prowess1 and brought offerings of bread and flesh to them4 ,later1 in the bloody wars of ,mexico and ,peru1 the war-horses1 whose riders were slain1 escaped and reproduced themselves rapidly in the great and luxurious plains1 well provided with food and water and in a climate especially suited to them4 ,de ,soto had horsemen with him on his expedition when he discovered the ,mississippi ,river1 and doubtless many of the horses were left behind to run wild when the survivors of that disastrous expedition1 without their leader1 returned in rough boats and rafts4 ,it is thought by some investigators that the horses found by ,cabot in ,la ,plata in #aecj could not have been imported1 but this is highly improbable4 ,there is practically no doubt but that the wild horse of ,america is a direct descendant of the ,spanish horse1 and therefore of the selfsame blood1 which later made the thoroughbred in ,england1 and the trotter in the ,united ,states1 the fleetest and most valuable of their race4 ,the first importation of horses into what is now the ,united ,states was in #aebg by ,cabeza de ,vaca2 these1 forty-two in number1 were brought to ,florida1 but through accident1 disease1 and ill-usage1 all of them died4 ,the next importation was by ,de ,soto from ,spain1 and these no doubt were the progenitors of our wild horses of the ,west and ,southwest4 ,in #afbe1 the ,honorable ,pieter ,evertsen ,hueft agreed to ship1 and did ship1 to ,manhattan ,island1 one hundred head of cattle1 including a certain number of stallions and mares4 ,these horses were of the ,flanders breed1 from which descended the ,conestoga horse1 afterwards justly prized in ,pennsylvania4 ,the first horses came to ,massachusetts probably in #afbi4 ,at any rate1 we know that ,governor ,winthrop1 writing on board the ,arabella1 at ,cowes1 ,march #bh1 #afcj1 says3 ,we are in all our eleven ships about seven hundred persons and #bdj cows and about sixty horses4 ,english horses were landed at ,jamestown1 ,virginia1 as early as #afji1 and there is a tradition that the first horse to land in ,canada was brought to ,tadousac in #afdg4 ,as early as #afda-b we read of horses and carts crossing ,boston harbor on the ice1 so severe was the winter of that year4 ,in #afcf1 when the ,reverend ,thomas ,hooker and his followers left the colony to found ,hartford1 ,mrs4 ,hooker1 so a letter of that date reads1 was carried in a horse-litter4 ,but the diligence and care of these first settlers in ,new ,england is nowhere more clearly shown1 than by the fact that already1 in #afdj1 ,governor ,winthrop writes of shipping eighty horses from ,boston to the ,barbadoes4 ,hardly had they imported horses for themselves before they were breeding them and shipping them to other parts of the world4 ,these horses were not of very valuable stock4 ,as early as #afej a young mare with her second or third foal was valued at about #fj2 a five or six year old stallion at about #ee--this in ,manhattan4 ,in ,new ,england1 where cattle were especially abundant1 horses were worth about one-third less4 ,this is accounted for by the fact that horses in ,england even as late as the beginning of the eighteenth century were held in low esteem at home1 where they were valued at about fifty shillings each4 ,the better class of horses in ,england at this time were brought from ,barbary or from ,flanders4 ,the well-known saying1 ,the gray mare is the better horse1 arose from the recognized superiority of the gray mares from ,flanders over the ,english horses of that date4 ,even as late as #agjj1 dogs harnessed to small trucks did most of the teaming in the narrow and badly paved streets of the ,english towns1 and were by no means uncommon in ,london for many years after that time4 ,one may judge of the condition of the roads1 and the difficulties of transportation1 by the charges4 ,seven pounds sterling a ton was charged for transportation from ,london to ,birmingham2 and twelve pounds sterling a ton from ,london to ,exeter4 ,coal in those days was unknown except in the districts where it was mined1 owing to the fact that the transportation of coal over the roads as they then were in ,england1 would have made the price prohibitive4 ,the demand for the better class of horses in ,england at the time of the earlier importations of these animals to ,america1 was mainly for the army1 and for heavy horses to pull the carriages and heavy travelling coaches of the nobility and gentry4 ,such horses as were needed for these purposes were pretty generally imported from ,barbary and ,arabia1 and from ,flanders4 ,there seems to have been1 however1 a native horse in ,great ,britain2 for ,csar notes the fact that the ,britons drove war-chariots4 ,william the ,conqueror1 who represents to ,england genealogically what the ,mayflower represents to ,america1 gave to a certain ,simon ,st4 ,liz1 a ,norman friend of his1 the entire town of ,northampton and the whole hundred of ,falkley1 then valued at #dj a year1 to provide shoes for his horses4 ,from #ajff to the close of the twelfth century there was renewal and improvement of the ,british horse by importations from the continent1 and also by stray animals brought back by the ,crusaders under ,richard and others2 but such improvements of the native breed as these importations imply were of small importance1 and without system or aim of any kind4 ,during the reigns of ,henry ,,viii4 and ,elizabeth1 important legislation looking to the care and breeding of horses was passed1 and when ,james ,i41 who was fond of racing1 came to the throne1 he bought from a ,mr4 ,markham an ,arabian stallion1 afterwards always known as the ,markham ,arabian1 paying for him what was for those days the extravagant amount of five hundred guineas4 ,this purchase by ,king ,james marks the beginning of high-class breeding in ,england4 ,from then on1 down through the reigns of ,charles ,i41 ,charles ,,ii41 and ,william ,,iii41 not to mention ,oliver ,cromwell who raced horses with the same enthusiasm that he sang psalms1 many horses were imported1 much interest was taken in racing and breeding1 and for the last three hundred years1 from #afjc1 when ,james came to the throne1 till now1 ,england has been the home of1 probably1 the best horses in the world1 and nothing pleases her people as a whole more than to have the reigning sovereign win the ,derby4 ,the first volume of the ,english ,stud ,book1 then known as the ,match ,book1 was published in #ahjh1 and from then on we have had a more or less orderly sequence of breeding history1 and the ,english thoroughbred race-horse1 the progenitor at one time or another of the best types of horses in this country1 became a recognized standard of horse4 ,our own horse history may be said to begin at the beginning of the nineteenth century4 ,the ,treaty of ,peace with ,great ,britain was signed in ,paris1 ,july #c1 #aghc1 and the ,british troops left ,november #be4 ,the population of the ,united ,states at that time was less than four millions1 about the number of people settled in and around ,new ,york ,city to-day4 ,the carriage roads of ,boston were unpaved2 and marked off by a line of posts and gutters1 and laid with ill-assorted pebbles4 ,the horseman who rode too fast over these pebbles1 and thus threatened their disarrangement1 was fined three shillings and fourpence4 ,the mail was carried between ,boston and ,new ,york thrice a week in summer1 and twice a week in winter1 taking six days in summer and often nine days in winter1 and all carried in one pair of saddle-bags4 ,the post-riders knitted mittens and stockings as their horses jogged along over the well-known roads4 ,the very first coach and four in ,new ,england began running in #agdd1 and the first coach and four between ,new ,york and ,philadelphia1 the two most populous cities in the colonies1 was put on in #agef and accomplished the journey in three days4 ,two stages and twelve horses carried all the goods and passengers between ,new ,york and ,boston1 doing forty miles a day in summer1 and scarce twenty-five miles a day in winter4 ,josiah ,quincy1 writing at this time1 tells us that he once spent thirty days in his own coach going from ,boston to ,washington4 ,the streets of ,new ,york were so badly paved that ,benjamin ,franklin was wont to say that you could distinguish a ,new ,york man in ,philadelphia by the awkward way in which he shuffled over the smoother pavements of the latter city4 ,there were but three roads out of ,new ,york in those days3 the ,knightsbridge road1 a continuation of the ,bowery ,lane1 which went to ,knightsbridge and thence along the river to ,albany2 the old ,boston post-road1 which started from the neighborhood of what is now ,madison ,square1 thence to ,harlem1 and then east toward ,boston2 and the so-called middle road1 direct to ,harlem4 ,in the southernmost states there were no public conveyances of any kind except a stage-coach between ,charleston and ,savannah4 ,it is only one hundred years ago1 only the span of two lives1 and the population has grown from four millions to eighty millions2 the gross receipts from postage from #cbj1jjj 7the gross receipts for the year ending ,october #a1 #ahja7 to over #aba1jjj1jjj in #aijb4 ,the total estimate for the expenses of the city of ,new ,york in #ahjj was for #acj1jjj4 ,these were the days when the fashionable assemblies were advertised to open with a ,passe-,pie and end with the ,sarabund l',espagnole2 days when eight bags of cotton were seized by the officers of the customs in ,england1 because it was claimed no such enormous amount of cotton could have come from ,america2 days when1 so writes ,josiah ,quincy at any rate1 the minister alone had white bread1 for brown bread gave him heart-burn1 and he could not preach upon it2 and it was some fifty years later even than this1 before we had the wheel-plough of iron1 the reaper and binder1 the drill1 the hay-rake1 and the corn-cutter4 ,there was little leisure1 and little money to be devoted to sport of any kind1 and the horse and the dog existed in ,new ,england1 at least1 in varieties little suited to sport4 ,in the ,south it was somewhat different4 ,a jockey-club was organized in ,charleston1 ,south ,carolina1 as early as #agce1 and there was horse-racing in ,maryland1 ,virginia1 and other ,southern states for years before the ,revolution4 ,in ,new ,england1 on the contrary1 racing was strictly forbidden on moral and religious grounds4 ,no such thing as a running-race could be tolerated by the ,puritans of that section4 ,as a consequence of this1 we may trace the pedigree of the ,american trotting-horse straight to ,archbishop ,laud1 who having infuriated the ,puritans to the point of desiring emigration for themselves and their families to the new world1 they founded ,new ,england4 ,the scandalous levity and apparently papal leanings of ,charles and ,laud were not to be permitted for a moment in their new home1 and pretty much all amusements were frowned upon4 ,but the ,cromwellian love of a fast horse survived in some of his fellow-,puritans living in ,new ,england1 and men trained to the theological hair-splitting of that day made a distinction between horses trotting in friendly competition between church-members and horses running for money prizes6 ,thou shalt not covet1 but tradition ,approves all forms of competition4 ,two horses trotting down the streets of ,hingham1 ,massachusetts1 and one1 perhaps1 going a little faster than the other1 would hardly lead even the godly ,rev4 ,ebenezer ,gay to suppose that he was looking on at the beginnings of the sport of trotting-races1 and that a mare called ,goldsmith ,maid would win for her owners over #bjj1jjj between #ahff and #ahgh at this same sport4 ,strangely as it may read1 there is little doubt but that ,puritan principles or prejudices1 as you please1 gave the impetus to the development of the trotting-horse4 ,horses used for racing had always run1 but when it was discovered that horses could also be raced at a trot1 those that showed speed at this gait were used to breed from1 and pains were taken to develop their speeding qualities4 ,hence it is not flippant humor that traces the trotting-horse back to ,laud4 ,fast ,trotting4--,yesterday afternoon the ,haerlem race-course of one mile distance1 was trotted around in two minutes and fifty-nine seconds by a horse called ,yankey1 from ,new ,haven2 a rate of speed1 it is believed1 never before excelled in this country1 and fully equal to anything recorded in the ,english sporting calendars4--,from the ,connecticut ,journal1 ,june #ai1 #ahjf4 ,the first trotting-match of which there is any authentic account was in #ahah1 when ,boston ,blue was produced to win the wager1 that no horse could trot a mile in three minutes1 and won it2 what the amount was is not stated4 ,from that time on1 trotting horses against one another and against time became a popular amusement4 ,in #ahcd1 ,andrew ,jackson trotted a mile in #b minutes #db seconds2 in #aheh1 ,ethan ,allen trotted a mile in #b minutes #bh seconds2 in #ahei1 ,flora ,temple trotted a mile in #b minutes #ai seconds2 in #ahgd1 ,mambrino ,gift lowered the record to #b minutes and #bj seconds2 in #ahgd1 the famous ,goldsmith ,maid trotted a mile in #b minutes and #ad seconds4 ,in #ahdc there were only two horses that could trot a mile under #b minutes and #cj seconds2 while in #ahha there were over twelve hundred horses with records of #b minutes #cj seconds or better4 ,trotting in those early days was mostly under saddle1 and some of the races were even three miles in length4 ,since about #ahej trotting-races have been over a mile stretch1 best three in five heats4 ,it is noted as a curious fact in the history of the trotting-horse that ,messenger1 who served a number of thoroughbred mares1 served a far larger number of cold-blooded mares1 and it was in these latter that the trotting instinct was almost invariably developed4 ,this is repeated through the trotting register--almost no thoroughbreds have been trotting dams4 ,palo ,alto is about the only half-breed that was a successful trotter1 and one campaign finished him4 ,messenger was imported in #agib and was at stud in ,new ,york and in ,philadelphia for many years4 ,the first known importation of a thoroughbred to ,america was that of a horse called ,bully ,rock1 by the ,darley ,arabian1 out of a mare by the ,byerly ,turk1 brought over to ,virginia in #agcj4 ,a number of ,derby winners were imported to ,america before #ahjj1 including ,diomed1 the winner of the first ,derby in #aghj1 ,saltram1 ,john ,bull1 ,spread ,eagle1 ,sir ,harry1 and others4 ,it must not be forgotten in dealing with the subject of driving that not only the history of the harness-horse in ,america is all very modern history1 but that the condition of the roads and the state of the carriage-building trade prevented any great progress until lately4 ,carriages1 indeed1 were hardly an ordinary article of manufacture until late in the reign of ,charles ,,ii41 or about #afge4 ,it is maintained that a rough coach or wagon ran as a public conveyance between ,edinburgh and ,leith as early as #afaj1 but little is known on the subject4 ,the in-little-things-omniscient ,pepys writes in his diary under date of #affe of springs on certain carriages4 ,but coach and carriage-building had not progressed very far till later than this4 ,the state coach of ,george ,,iii41 #agfb1 weighed four tons1 was #bd feet long1 #h feet #c inches wide1 #ab feet high1 and had a pole #ab feet long4 ,hansom's ,patent ,safety ,cab did not appear until #ahcd4 ,in the spring of #affi1 a coach1 described as the ,flying ,coach1 went from ,oxford to ,london in one day1 a distance now covered in an hour and three-quarters by rail4 ,this ,flying ,coach departed on its first trip from ,oxford surrounded by the dignitaries of the town and the university1 and was welcomed in ,london by no less imposing official personages4 ,with this coach and others to follow1 began all sorts of objections to conveyances going at this rate of speed4 ,it was contended that they would spoil the roads1 ruin the inns along the route by not stopping at them1 and do great harm to the breed of horses by promoting speed at the expense of bone and weight4 ,it is curious to think that even the first mail-coach was criticised on much the same grounds as the first railroad trains4 ,there was little danger either in ,england or in ,america of unduly fast travel with horses and vehicles in their then condition4 ,even now in the ,united ,states the condition of the roads1 except in and around the wealthier cities1 is deplorable4 ,in the last quarter of a century in this country we have built #acb1hfe miles of steam railway and we now have #bjc1acc miles of railroad4 ,during the past fifteen years we have built some #bc1jjj miles of trolley road2 we have spent in ten years #agf1bbf1icd for the improvement of rivers and harbors1 but for the inland farmer almost nothing has been done to give him good wagon roads4 ,there are #gd1jig miles of public highway in the state of ,new ,york alone4 ,it is calculated that #a4ae will haul a ton-- ,five miles on a common road1 ,twelve and one-half to fifteen miles on a well-made road1 ,twenty-five miles on a trolley road1 ,two hundred and fifty miles on a steam railway1 ,one thousand miles on a steamship4 ,france has #bc1fjc miles of wagon roads built and maintained by the government4 ,italy has some #ejjj miles of road built and maintained by the government4 ,here in the ,united ,states1 where more and more depends upon the ability of the farmers1 small and large1 to get their produce quickly and safely to market1 nothing has been done as yet by the ,federal government4 ,it is worth knowing that a pair of horses drawing a load of #djjj pounds on a level road with a certain effort1 can only draw with the same effort-- #cfjj pounds on a road with a grade of #a foot rise in #ajj feet1 #cbjj pounds on a road with a grade of #a foot rise in #ej feet1 #bhhj pounds on a road with a grade of #a foot rise in #dj feet1 #bafj pounds on a road with a grade of #a foot rise in #be feet1 #afjj pounds on a road with a grade of #a foot rise in #bj feet4 ,it is worth knowing1 too1 that careful experiments prove that wide tires--#c to #d inches--are lighter in their draught than narrow tires4 ,that they are better for the road is very apparent4 ,the wider tires act almost as a stonecrusher1 and actually help to keep roads in repair4 ,in ,austria1 all wagons carrying a load of more than #b tons are obliged by law to have wheels with rims #d inches wide4 ,in ,france1 the tires of wheels on wagons used for carrying heavy loads are from #d to #f inches wide and some of them as much as #aj inches wide4 ,in ,france1 too1 the rear axles on such wagons are made from #ab to #ad inches wider than the front axles1 so that the rear wheels run outside the track of the front wheels1 thus making a very effective road improver of every heavy wagon4 ,in ,germany1 the law requires that all wagons carrying heavy loads shall have tires to their wheels at least #d inches wide4 ,it is now within the jurisdiction of boards of supervisors1 in the state of ,new ,york at least1 to enact laws regulating the width of tires on heavy wagons4 ,what good roads and wide tires and properly cared for and properly harnessed and handled horses would mean to us1 in this1 now the greatest agricultural and manufacturing country in the world1 is almost beyond calculation4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,v4--,,teeth ,,of ,,horse ,,chapter ,,iv ,,points ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,though you will probably never find just the horse you want for your particular purpose1 that is no reason for not knowing something about the ideal horse4 ,there must be some intelligent and rational notions in regard to a horse if you are to choose one4 ,it is better to know what one wants1 and to keep it clear in mind1 in this world1 even if one never gets it4 ,it is as sure as anything can be that the man who does not know what he wants will not get it4 ,probably the best way to know a good horse is to study attentively a fine specimen of harness-horse 7,plate ,,ix471 polo pony 7,plate ,,vii471 saddle-horse 7,plate ,,viii471 coach-horse1 light-harness horse 7,plate ,,xiii471 children's pony 7,plates ,,xi41 ,,xii471 and carry the type in your mind's eye for reference 7,plate ,,xxx474 ,a man learns to know a good book by years of intelligent study of good books2 he comes to know a good picture by seeing the best pictures4 ,the man who has seen champion ,lord ,lismore knows forever after what an ,irish setter ought to look like2 the man who has seen ,pierre ,lorillard's ,geneva knows what a light-weight ,llewellyn setter ought to look like4 ,no instrument has been invented which can teach a man to know a good book1 a good picture1 a good dog1 a good horse1 or a good woman4 ,no such instrument will ever be invented1 and that is what makes life so surprisingly unexpected1 interesting1 and exciting4 ,we may deplore our ignorance1 but it is precisely this which keeps us all alive4 ,to begin with1 then1 the head of the ideal horse should be lean1 the skin fine1 the bones prominent1 the muscles well developed1 showing the masticating apparatus in good working order4 ,the space between the jaws underneath should be broad and well hollowed out ,there is a saying that a man should be able to put his clinched fist there1 but such a test would require a very unhorsemanlike hand4 ,remember that a horse breathes through his nose1 and that the air passages from nostrils to windpipe always must have space4 ,the windpipe should be large and well defined in its detachment from the neck4 ,it is preferable that his profile should be ,grecian1 or straight1 rather than either concave or convex4 ,he should be broad between the eyes for three reasons3 first1 because that forehead is the roof over the spaces through which he breathes2 second1 because to it are attached the muscles by which he opens and shuts his mouth2 third1 because this space also contains the brain4 ,the eye should not be conspicuously small1 denoting trickiness1 nor unduly prominent1 known among horsemen as the buck eye1 and often denoting defective vision4 ,it should be set well up in the head1 and when looked into should not show too much white1 and should be clear4 ,the eyelids should be thin and comparatively without wrinkles4 ,the lips should be thin and flexible1 and without undue length1 either above or below4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,vi4--,,teeth ,,of ,,horse ,the ears should be lean1 and the skin and hair on them fine4 ,a quick1 decisive movement of the ears gives an air of readiness and determination and usually implies those qualities4 ,a lop-eared1 hanging-lipped animal may turn out useful1 just as men with faces like ,socrates and ,savonarola turned out to be saints2 but in buying horses and trusting men it is better to go by general laws than by exceptions4 ,the head should be set on to the neck to give1 what is very hard to describe1 but easy to recognize1 viz4 an appearance as though the neck controlled the head1 and not as though head and neck were all of one piece4 ,at this juncture of head and neck the distance between the throat and poll should1 as compared with the size of the neck elsewhere1 be small4 ,the shoulders1 not only for a saddle-horse1 but for the harness-horse as well1 should be sloping 7,plate ,,viii474 ,put a saddle on half a dozen different horses one after the other and note where the stirrup-leathers fall1 i4e4 how far behind the fore legs4 ,if you have no other way of knowing whether the horse you are looking at has straight or oblique shoulders1 this will tell you infallibly4 ,remember that about this question of shoulders1 as about most other points of the horse1 much nonsense is talked by the slovenly omniscient1 of whom there is a multitude in the horse world4 ,for though1 as a rule1 a horse can trot and gallop and walk with straight shoulders1 he can do none of these exercises1 except the last 7that not fast7 comfortably to himself with straight shoulders4 ,remember1 in examining the shoulder of a horse1 that there is the shoulder-blade and also the short bone 7humerus7 connecting the shoulder-blade with the upper bone of the leg4 ,this shorter bone slopes backward and downward4 ,the shoulder-blade is the better the more it slants1 this shorter bone is the better the less it slants4 ,a good horse1 whether saddler1 road-horse1 or harness-horse1 steps from the shoulder1 not from the knee4 ,do not be deceived by the up-and-down action from the knee1 which is often taken to mean free and high action4 ,the contrary is true4 ,such a horse can travel all day on a tinplate4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,vii4--,,polo ,,pony ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,viii4--,,light-,,harness ,,horse ,the ribs should be well rounded from above to below1 should be definitely separated1 and of full length4 ,a horse with flat1 short ribs near together must1 anatomically1 be lacking in power4 ,the chest should be deep1 but not excessively wide4 ,the depth of the chest measured around should be large4 ,when a horse is pointed out to you as being well ribbed up1 this does not mean that a line drawn from the bottom of his chest along his belly should slope abruptly upward like a greyhound2 on the contrary1 the loins and back1 at the point slightly behind where the cantle of a saddle would come1 should be broad1 flat1 and powerful-looking1 and there should be no appearance of being tucked in1 or tucked up1 at the hinder end of the back and loins4 ,a line drawn around the horse's body from the top of the withers to the elbow-joint1 and from the point of the hip to the stifle-joint1 would include between them where the horse lives1 and this valuable space should be roomy and enclosed in muscular1 but elastic1 walls4 ,if you put a tape around a well-developed and well-bred polo pony #ad4b in height1 around his barrel just behind his fore legs1 he will measure #ff to #fh inches2 around his barrel just in front of his hind legs #fa to #fc inches4 ,the same measurements for a well-bred horse #ae4b will be from #gj to #gc inches1 and from #fe to #fg inches respectively4 ,these are the proportions of an animal well ribbed up in the best sense4 ,tucked up or tucked in would mean that the measurements are smaller in proportion1 behind4 ,in looking over your prospective horse1 therefore1 see that his body be well rounded out not only in front but also behind1 so that the last ribs look to be long1 well rounded1 and having but a small space--two or three fingers--between themselves and the point of the hip4 ,depth1 shortness1 and roundness of body are the essentials 7,plate ,,vii474 ,as for the legs1 the upper bone should be long in proportion to the lower or cannon-bone1 and should be large and well supplied with muscle4 ,the elbows should stand out far enough from the body to insure freedom of action4 ,the knee should be wide from side to side1 flat in front1 and thick from before to behind4 ,the leg just below the knee should not look disproportionately small1 or tied in as it is called1 but should be as large as other parts of the lower limb4 ,the tendons that run down behind the cannon-bone should not adhere closely just below the knee4 ,this bone 7cannon-bone7 between the knee and the fetlock should be short1 straight1 and strong4 ,the fetlock--the upper and lower pastern bones--should be of moderate length and neither too sloping nor too straight4 ,out of a number of horses those with the best pasterns were those who stood the following simple test3 ,drop a line with a weight on it from the shoulder opposite the middle of the leg2 in the case of the perfect pastern the line should end immediately behind the hoof4 ,if the line drops in front of the heels of the hoof1 the pastern is too straight2 if behind1 the pastern is too flexible4 ,the hoof of the horse corresponds to the claw or nail in other animals1 and is made so that it forms a solid1 tough1 horny case around the expanded end of the toe4 ,this non-sensitive substance renews itself from within as friction and work wear it away4 ,the feet of the horse should be moderately large1 with the heels open and the frogs sound and with no sign of contraction4 ,big1 spreading1 awkward-looking feet mean weight to lift1 coarse breeding1 and usually a dull1 heavy disposition4 ,smallish1 round hoofs mean just the contrary4 ,behind1 the horse should have long and wide hips1 with no appearance of raggedness1 the stifle and thigh strong and long1 and the hind quarters well let down1 and not turned in nor turned out4 ,the hind feet should be under the end of the croup1 and the hocks and fetlocks should be a little back of a line dropped from the buttocks4 ,the hock should have plenty of bone1 be neatly outlined1 wide1 and thick4 ,the bones below the hock should be flat1 the tendons well developed and standing out from the bone1 the feet and pasterns as in front4 ,the dock of the tail should be large and strong4 ,muscular development there1 means proportionate strength all along the spine4 ,the tail should be set on high1 and be carried firmly and away from the quarters4 ,a fat1 awkward tail is a mark of poor breeding4 ,the tail of the well-bred horse usually tapers off toward the end4 ,as a well-known ,continental breaker and trainer of horses phrases it3 ,i like a handsome head1 long and light neck1 prominent withers1 short and strong back and loins1 long croup1 long and oblique shoulders1 close coupling between the point of the hip and the last rib1 hocks well let down1 short cannon-bones1 long forearms1 and the pasterns fairly long4 ,a horse should be close to the ground1 which he will be when the distance from the brisket to the ground will be equal to that from the withers to the brisket4 ,a horse which is high off the ground is generally clumsy in his movements and liable to stumble4 ,an old-time writer on the subject of the horse claims that a good horse should have3 three qualities of a woman1--a broad breast1 round hips1 and a long mane2 three of a lion1--countenance1 courage1 and fire2 three of a bullock1--the eye1 the nostrils1 and the joints2 three of a sheep1--the nose1 gentleness1 and patience2 three of a mule1--strength1 constancy1 and foot2 three of a deer1--head1 legs1 and short hair2 three of a wolf1--throat1 neck1 and hearing2 three of a fox1--ear1 tail1 and trot2 three of a serpent1--memory1 sight1 and turning2 and three of a hare or cat1--running1 walking1 and suppleness4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,ix4--,,harness ,,type ,illustration3 ,,plate ,x4--,,flying ,,cloud1 ,,harness ,,type ,xenophon writes3 ,the neck should not be thrown out from the chest like a boar's1 but like a cock's should rise straight up to the poll and be slim at the bend1 while the head1 though bony1 should have but a small jaw4 ,the neck would then protect the rider1 and the eye see what lies before the feet4 ,one cannot go to buy a horse with a tape-measure1 but certain proportions are well enough to keep in mind4 ,the length of the head of a well-proportioned horse is almost equal to the distance3 7#a7 from the top of the withers to the point of the shoulder2 7#b7 from the lowest point of the back to the abdomen2 7#c7 from the point of the stifle to the point of the hock2 7#d7 from the point of the hock to the lower level of the hoof2 7#e7 from the shoulder-blade to the point of the haunch4 ,two and a half times the length of the head gives3 7#a7 the height of the withers and the height of the croup above the ground1 and 7#b7 very nearly the length from the point of the shoulder to the extreme of the buttock 7,plate ,,xviii74 ,one should never judge a man or a horse by his defects and weaknesses1 but rather by his strong points and his general proportions4 ,any political campaign will teach the absolute impossibility1 not to say imbecility1 of any or all the candidates2 and yet one or another of them is fairly certain to give us a respectable government4 ,tammany has been known to elect an upright mayor2 ,reform has been known to elect a weak one4 ,there have been trotters and runners of surprising records with numerous defects of build1 and we all have one or more equine paragons in the stable that are for sale at a moderate price4 ,none the less1 there are certain defects which should be constantly kept in mind4 ,they are1 beginning at the head3 a coarse1 heavy head1 a thick1 short neck1 a small1 sunken eye1 a long back1 a hollow back 7though there have been good racers with sway-backs71 flat sides1 too much length between last rib and hind quarters 7a mare1 as compared with a horse1 has1 as a rule1 a lighter neck1 a broader pelvis1 is higher behind and slacker in the loins71 prominent and bony hips1 low at the withers1 a shallow chest1 fore legs too close together and not straight1 very straight or very bent pasterns and hocks1 much split up between the quarters1 tail put on too low and hanging close to the quarters1 flat feet1 over-big feet1 contracted feet4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xi4--,,children',s ,,pony ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xii4--,,children',s ,,pony ,of the age of a horse1 after eight years1 only those who have given much time and study to the subject can determine anything very accurately4 ,the receding of the gums and wear and tear of the teeth1 of course1 are indubitable signs of age4 ,the lower jaw1 too1 as a horse advances in years1 tends to bend outward1 making an angle more and more acute rather than an obtuse angle4 ,the cross-sections of the teeth1 too1 are smaller as the teeth grow up from the gums to supply the parts worn away4 ,up to the age of six years the age of the horse can be determined fairly accurately1 but even then difference in food and care make a marked difference in the wear on the teeth4 ,the young foal has two and sometimes three temporary molars in each jaw 7,plate ,v474 ,when about twelve months old another molar appears 7,plate ,v47 which is permanent1 and before the completion of the second year a fifth molar1 also permanent1 appears 7,plate ,v474 ,between the age of three and four the mouth is completed with twelve permanent molars in each jaw1 or twenty-four in all 7,plate ,v474 ,the incisors are six in number in each jaw when the mouth is complete1 at the age of four4 ,just back of these1 on each side1 at the age of four appears a pointed tooth called a tusk 7,plate ,,vi474 ,these tusks are rarely found in mares4 ,the lower jaw of a horse three years old is marked by two permanent teeth in the centre and two milk teeth on either side4 ,milk teeth are easily distinguished from permanent incisors by their smallness1 whiteness1 and their more distinct necks4 ,at the age of four the lower jaw has four permanent and one milk tooth on either side4 ,at the age of five there are six permanent teeth and no milk teeth4 ,at the age of six there are six permanent teeth and the corner teeth are filled in the centre4 ,at the age of seven the dark filling in the pit of the two centre teeth disappears 7,plate ,,vi474 ,at the age of eight 7,plate ,,vi47 the dark filling disappears from the four centre teeth1 and at the age of nine these marks have generally disappeared from all the teeth 7,plate ,,vi474 ,for all practical purposes this measure of the age of the horse is accurate enough1 though it is apparent that the nature of the food on which the horse is fed1 whether it be hard or soft1 makes a difference4 ,horses1 for example1 fed upon the fresh food of a farm will retain the marks in the teeth longer than horses grazing upon tough grass4 ,as a rule1 in examining a horse's mouth only the lower jaw is looked at4 ,it is well to lift the lips above the upper incisors to see if they are unduly worn--a sure sign of cribbing4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xiii4--,,good ,,shoulders1 ,,legs1 ,,and ,,feet ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xiv4--,,heavy-,,harness ,,types ,what has been written thus far as to the points of the horse may puzzle the amateur owner1 for the reason that these points seem to apply to all horses of whatever description4 ,in proper proportions they do4 ,it is only necessary to adapt these measurements and proportions to the kind of a horse we want1 remembering always the well-known law1 that muscles and bones of speed are long and slender1 and those of strength are short and thick4 ,a pony #ad hands #b inches1 capable of carrying #bjj odd pounds1 and a three-quarters bred polo pony of the same size1 but wanted for speed and quickness1 would naturally enough not look alike1 but the general relation of the parts to one another would be the same2 and in looking at one for a weight-carrier and at the other for speed1 you should bear in your mind's eye the same distinct principles of what constitutes a good horse and what a bad one4 ,if you are looking for a horse for your runabout1 or for a horse for a heavy station-wagon1 one should be lighter1 cleaner-built perhaps1 quicker1 and livelier than the other2 but it is a grave mistake to suppose that the same remarks about head1 neck1 back1 legs1 feet1 and so on do not apply with equal pertinency to the one as to the other4 ,remembering always that weight is of great help in pulling a load1--a horse with a heavy man on his back can pull a big load up a hill that without the weight on his back he could scarcely move1--the other general definitions of what constitute a good horse apply to all classes4 ,a straight-shouldered horse is less noticeable and less uncomfortable in harness than under saddle2 a slab-sided1 ragged-hipped1 goose-rumped animal well covered with heavy harness in a brougham is less offensive than under saddle1 but such an one is a poor specimen wherever he is4 ,the ideal way1 however1 to cultivate an eye for a horse is to study his make-up externally and internally from the plates of the skeleton and the internal parts 7,plates ,,xvi4 and ,,xvii472 to bear in mind what his ancestry is2 to note the relation of the parts to one another1 and the position of his various organs2 to study carefully the dispositions1 abilities1 strength1 and weaknesses of the horses that you know well2 and to come to your conclusions with this knowledge and experience in the back of your brain4 ,to be able to gabble off the points of a horse memoriter avails about as much as to know the letters of the alphabet avails to write one of ,rossetti's sonnets4 ,even then you will make mistakes2 but to enjoy the sport of owning and using horses1 either in harness or under saddle1 one cannot know too much1 either theoretically or practically4 ,although this volume is included in a library on sport1 it should never be forgotten that in dealing with every branch of sport1 particularly where live animals are trained and used by the sportsman1 a very serious ethical element enters4 ,no man who knows nothing about horses1 no matter how charitable he may be1 no matter how ecclesiastically regular he may be1 no matter how conspicuously tender-hearted he may be to children1 insects1 and the poor1 has any business on a horse or behind a horse4 ,first1 because he is almost invariably cruel to the horse2 and secondly1 because he is endangering the lives of other people4 ,how often ,i have seen ,piety in the saddle1 sawing the tender bars of the horse's mouth1 and sliding back and forth from pommel to cantle of the saddle1 excoriating the tender skin and flesh beneath4 ,how often ,i have seen ,philanthropy and ,worth driving horses with cruel bearing-reins1 traces too long1 pole-straps too tight1 coupling-reins of the same length for the long-necked and the short-necked horse1 belly-band tight and girth loose1 bit too wide1 nose-band flapping up and down1 and breeching too tight or too loose4 ,little did ,philanthropy and ,worth realize that these things were as uncomfortable to the horse as tight shoes1 trousers too long1 coats too small1 collars too tight1 and a toothache and headache to them4 ,it is because sport has been handled in this country to such a large extent by the professional and by the uncultivated1 that its prime value as a teacher of practical and economic morality has been overlooked4 ,above all things1 do not imagine that1 because you own one or more horses and stroke their necks occasionally1 that you know a horse when you see one4 ,such knowledge does not come by cutaneous friction nor by money4 ,a wise man has three attributes always2 he may have more1 but he must have these3 7#a7 he is never afraid to ask questions2 7#b7 he is thankful for the many things he does not want2 7#c7 he knows when he does not know things4 ,therefore1 ask questions and make no pretence4 ,the most ill-informed man ,i ever met is one who has never failed to answer every question asked him1 and who never asks one himself4 ,it is needless to say that he is a failure in his profession1 a bore socially1 and an encyclopdia of voluble misinformation4 ,,chapter ,v ,,the ,,stable ,once you have a horse1 the next thing is to provide a place for him to live in4 ,it may be better to keep a horse in a livery-stable rather than to have no horse at all1 but certainly nine-tenths1 and something more1 of the pleasure of owning horses is lost if you have no stable of your own4 ,there are three classes of stables1--good stables1 bad stables1 and magnificent stables2 just as there are three kinds of lies1--lies1 damned lies1 and statistics4 ,wise men have good stables and sometimes tell lies2 ignorant and bad men have poor stables and often tell damned lies2 gamblers and shoddy millionnaires--6 ,whatever else they may have1 good stables must infallibly have light1 air1 and good drainage4 ,to accomplish these things1 the stable should be above the level of the ground surrounding it1 if only a few inches1 to facilitate proper drainage4 ,it should face preferably south or west1 to get the largest possible amount of sunlight4 ,pay no attention to any talk about a dark stable4 ,it is an exploded notion4 ,it is of course necessary to be able to darken the part of the stable where the horses take their rest2 and it is a great convenience to have a box-stall or two1 separated entirely from the others1 where a horse may be kept quiet1 cool1 and out of the light4 ,but if necessity demands a choice between light and darkness1 choose the light every time4 ,sunlight is the best antiseptic in the world for either men or horses4 ,the size of the stable depends upon the purse4 ,it is not a question of the number of horses1 because no horse owner was ever known to have all the horses he wanted4 ,just as every yacht owner wishes to add just ten feet to his yacht1 so every man with a stable of horses could use just one or two more to advantage4 ,it is a fair statement to work upon1 however1 that every horse in a stable is entitled1 for his health and comfort1 to nine hundred cubic feet of space1 at least4 ,next to the proper allowance of food and water1 this matter of good air in the stable is the most important of all4 ,the gases given off through the lungs and skin1 and those generated from urine1 and fces1 are poisonous and irritating4 ,coughs1 colds1 bad coats1 swelled legs1 general debility1 are all due to badly ventilated stables1 and if a contagious disease starts in such a stable1 it is well-nigh impossible to save any one of the inmates4 ,bad ventilation does not mean necessarily that a stable is hot1 nor good ventilation that a stable is cold4 ,if properly managed1 a stable may be so ventilated as to avoid either extreme4 ,what is wanted is abundance of fresh air without draughts4 ,all systems of ventilation are based upon the principle that heated air expands and ascends1 so that the inlets should be below1 the outlets above4 ,the inlets should be so arranged that the cool air does not come in where it may blow upon the legs of the horses or make them uncomfortable when lying down4 ,all windows and doors should be kept in easy working order1 so that it is no trouble to servants to open and close them4 ,for after all has been said and done upon these matters theoretically1 the practice will depend almost entirely upon the man or men in charge4 ,i would rather have a poor stable1 with a first-rate man in charge of it1 than the best stable ever built1 with a careless1 indifferent1 ignorant1 and occasionally inebriate man in charge4 ,no mechanical arrangements1 no matter how minute and delicate in their serviceability1 are of the slightest value when in control of the incompetent4 ,spend time1 thought1 money1 and patience in building yourself the best stable your purse permits2 but in proportion spend even more in procuring the man who is to be at the head of it4 ,when you get him1 don't pamper him1 or bribe him1 or kotow to him1--no self-respecting man is held by such bonds1--but make him your friend and run your stable jointly with him1 respecting him in his capacity and retaining his respect for you in yours4 ,above all things1 abjure the maudlin sentiment of the day1 that there should be no master and no man4 ,the universe1 so far as telescope can see1 the earth1 from centre to rim1 recognize love1 law1 and obedience4 ,every intelligent man is the servant of somebody1 and ought to be proud of it2 if he is not1 something is radically wrong with him or the master he has chosen to serve4 ,try to make the man in the stable proud of being your servant4 ,if you succeed1 everything will go well2 if you cannot accomplish this with love and law1 then you will have to fall back upon some makeshift1 like money1 and get on the best you can4 ,but make no mistake1 and save yourself untold troubles by realizing at the start that money alone does not make good servants in the stable or anywhere else4 ,the sailors who fought with ,paul ,jones1 and the cavalry-men who rode with ,phil ,sheridan1 were not thinking much of their pay4 ,the manikin moved by money will spoil your stable1 your temper1 and your horses4 ,study carefully the characters of those who are continually complaining of their servants6 ,the simpler the construction of the stable1 the better4 ,have as few separate rooms and as few passageways as possible2 this means light1 air1 cleanliness1 and convenience4 ,if you are about to build a stable1 go about among your friends1 view their stables1 and hear what they have to say from their experience4 ,money spent in practical inspection before building will be saved many times over1 in getting what you want1 and1 best of all1 knowing why you want it4 ,a few inches above the ground is enough for drainage2 if the stable is higher than this1 you have a pent to go up and down at the stable door4 ,in winter this is dangerous1 and at all times it frets the horses to slide out of the stable at the start-off4 ,your entrance door should be at least #aj feet #f inches wide and at least #aj feet #f inches high4 ,the ceilings in coach house1 and over the stables1 should be at least #ab feet high1 and a foot or two more gives that much more air space4 ,windows in coach house1 saddle room1 harness room and cleaning room should be at a height convenient for opening and shutting and always in easy working order4 ,windows in stalls and boxes should have the lower sill at least #f feet #c inches above the ground1 so that the light shall not be in the horse's eyes and draughts shall not blow upon them4 ,these windows should all have shutters on the outside1 should hinge from the bottom1 let down from outside in1 and be enclosed on the inside in a box to prevent side draughts4 ,the stalls should be at least #i feet long1 though #aj feet is not too long1 and at least #e feet #g inches wide1 though a narrower stall may prevent a horse getting cast4 ,if there are stalls on both sides1 or stalls on one side1 and boxes on the other1 the aisle between should be at least #aj feet wide1 that the horse may be brought out and turned comfortably4 ,if possible1 have one or two box-stalls completely detached from the other stalls and boxes1 for sick horses1 for horses needing rest and quiet1 and for new horses that may come into the stable with distemper4 ,if there are living rooms over the stable1 do not have them over the horses4 ,horses ought to be allowed to sleep in peace4 ,the coach-house floor should be preferably of wood on account of dampness1 though cement is cheaper1 and in a well-aired and dry stable is good enough4 ,the aisle between stalls should be of brick1 or of well-laid small flint brick1 laid in mortar1 and with the lines running parallel to one another1 and not in herring-bone fashion1 so that a hose and a stable broom can thoroughly cleanse the cracks4 ,any other arrangement requires a knife to get all the dirt away4 ,the stalls should have brick floors1 or brick or cement1 with a slatted wooden floor over it4 ,there are advocates of wood alone and brick alone for the stall floor2 the slats are a fair compromise4 ,these slats should run down the centre of the stall1 beginning some #d feet from front of stall4 ,the slats should be held together with iron rods1 and either pull out bodily or move on hinges1 so that the stall may be washed out thoroughly with the hose4 ,the partitions between stalls should be #g or #h feet high in front and #e or #f behind4 ,it is well to leave a few inches of space between the partitions and the wall in front1 and between the bottom of the partitions and the floor1 for circulation of air4 ,the ideal stall would have both a box-drain in the centre1 and a drain running at the bottom from one end of the line of stalls to the other at a slight incline4 ,the latter is sufficient1 however4 ,horses should stand as nearly as possible on a level4 ,a slope of one in eighty is enough for drainage4 ,box-stalls should have a centre drain with a well-secured top to prevent accident4 ,all drainage in stables should be surface drainage4 ,permit no underground pipes1 traps1 or drains in your stable6 ,boxes should be at least #aj feet #f by #ab feet4 ,it is claimed by practical horse owners of long standing that no more straw is used in stalls and boxes with brick floors than in those with wooden or wooden slat floors1 and that the former are cleaner4 ,it goes without saying that the less wood and iron you have in stalls and boxes1 the better4 ,they rust1 corrode1 get soaked1 and smell4 ,in a well-kept stable your nose should not be a factor in the recognition of the fact that you are in a stable4 ,the harness room should be of wood throughout1 ceiling as well1 to avoid dampness4 ,unless you have dozens of sets of harness1 some of which are seldom used1 and therefore conveniently kept in cases1 cover your harness-room walls with baize stuff1 and have your harnesses in the full blaze of all the light and publicity there is4 ,they will be kept better4 ,have a box with a baize stuff back and a glass door for bits1 chains1 etc41 and have it too big rather than too small4 ,harness room1 coach house1 saddle room1 and cleaning room should each have a place for a stove4 ,there should be no artificial heat where the horses are kept4 ,well-blanketed horses can be kept without injury even in an occasional temperature of #cj1 as happened frequently in many stables during the severe winter of #aijc-d4 ,such a temperature is not good for them1 but even that is much better than artificial heat incompetently superintended4 ,six or seven horses in one stable are enough4 ,they have more air1 more quiet1 are kept cleaner1 and the coming and going makes less disturbance and does not change the temperature of the stable so violently4 ,in this climate a stable of wood is cheaper1 cooler in summer1 warmer in winter1 and1 at all times1 drier4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xv4--,,stable ,,plan ,after studying a number of stables and experimenting with my own1 ,i should build a stable--say to accommodate seven horses1 or fourteen at a pinch--as follows3 coach house to stand fourteen vehicles 7,plate ,,xv474 ,the building to face south or west4 ,horses to face1 the majority of them1 to the north4 ,ground floor #d inches above the outside ground4 ,entrance door to slide and to be #aj feet #f inches wide and the same in height4 ,the ideal thing1 of course1 is to be able to drive through your stable by having another door opposite your entrance door4 ,it only diminishes the wall space1 and is convenient in many ways1 especially in a country stable1 where you may wish to stand a horse and trap indoors4 ,drive in the door on to carriage wash1 sloping toward drain in centre1 this to be of cement4 ,sliding door to the right admitting to the stables1 with six stalls facing north and two box-stalls facing south4 ,space #aj feet by #aj feet for cleaning harness1 between box-stall and wall that separate carriage wash from stables1 with a door at the end1 half door preferred1 furnished with hooks and two telescope harness-hangers1 water-trough1 and shelves4 ,aisle1 #aj feet wide between stalls and box-stalls1 laid in vitrified brick1 all lines between bricks running into one another both lengthwise and sideways for greater convenience in cleaning4 ,drain in centre of each box-stall1 and covered drain running at foot of stalls4 ,covers of all drains removable1 and drains to be easily washable with hose4 ,stalls floored with brick1 box-stalls of the same4 ,half door at end of aisle to face large door leading into carriage wash4 ,in this climate1 screens on all doors and windows for summer4 ,windows as described4 ,feed and hay to come down shafts on one side of space allotted to harness cleaning4 ,trough in that space with cold water only4 ,hot water to be furnished by boiler on stove in carriage house4 ,no separate harness cleaning room in a stable of this kind4 ,the rough work can be conveniently done in the space described1 and the polishing1 dusting1 etc41 in the harness room4 ,this saves an extra room1 probably dark1 and at any rate another room to be kept clean4 ,carriage house to the left of carriage wash1 preferably floored and ceiled with wood1 with hospital1 or rounded corners and edges1 so that it can be readily and thoroughly cleaned1 #be by #ce feet1 which will easily contain twelve to fifteen vehicles4 ,harness room to be entered from end of carriage wash opposite entrance door1 to be eleven by twenty-four1 walls lined with baize and furnished with fixtures for harness1 saddles1 whips1 etc4 ,two extra box-stalls1 tool room1 water-closet1 and separate entrance1 with stairs to living rooms above1 built out from southwest angle of carriage house4 ,these box-stalls to have half doors1 if possible1 opening into a small paddock and floored with dirt or peat moss4 ,forty dollars' worth of ,miss ,hewitt's well-made hurdles will make you a very useful paddock and save scores of dollars in veterinary bills4 ,by all means have cleats to form a ladder on the wall of the hay-shaft1 so that the man can get directly and quickly to his horses in case of accident or danger4 ,poles1 fastened to the wall with hinges1 so that they are not in the way when not used1 along the walls of the carriage house1 for robes1 and rests for poles themselves4 ,chests lined with tin for travelling and for storing winter or summer clothing1 blankets1 robes1 etc4 ,hay should be fed from the floor1 not from overhead mangers4 ,feed boxes and water-receptacles movable1 that they may be from time to time taken out to be scoured and sunned4 ,horses watered with water-buckets and not by having water in stalls always at hand4 ,as regards this practice1 the theory is indisputable1 but in practice you have dirty water1 stale water1 water when horses are heated or just after meals1 unless you have first-class servants2 and if you have these1 the buckets are safer and save that much plumbing--the less of which you have in a stable1 the better4 ,in such a stable you drive your carriage in on to the wash4 ,the horses are unhooked and taken into the stables1 where if it is a raw day the door may be closed4 ,the harness is taken off1 hung on hooks1 and the horses are cared for4 ,the harness is then cleaned and taken to the harness room1 where it may be given finishing touches4 ,the carriage is washed down and run into its place1 and all with the very minimum of going and coming and so arranged that no dirt need be carried across clean spaces4 ,horses1 carriages1 and harness are all landed where they are to be first cared for1 and are then close to where they belong when cleaned4 ,this of course is an economical plan1 and is not intended to describe the ideal stable4 ,it is merely an ideal stable for a man of moderate means4 ,once a week1 weather permitting1 all carriages should be aired and sunned outside4 ,it may be said1 however1 that a thoroughly dry carriage house is better than even this much exposure to the sun1 with the effect of fading cushions1 trimmings1 etc4 ,saddles should always be dried in the sun when possible4 ,once a week1 too1 the coach house should be cleaned and dusted4 ,once a week horses should be moved from their stalls to other stalls or box-stalls1 bedding removed1 slats lifted or taken out1 if there are slats1 and the stable flushed and broomed out thoroughly and sprinkled with disinfectant and water4 ,i have known stables where there has not been a sick horse for years1 except in the case of new horses with distemper4 ,the temperature of a stable is best between #ej to #gj4 ,the nearer it is kept at #fe the year round1 the better4 ,into the details of fixtures1 implements1 architectural and plumbing minuti1 it is not the purpose of this small volume to go4 ,there are books which cover this ground completely1 accurately1 and in great detail1 the titles of which may be found in the ,bibliography4 ,although only the ground plan of a stable is outlined and described here1 the rooms above the stable are important4 ,the coachman1 with or without family1 should live in the stable1 and it is convenient to have the undermen there too if possible4 ,horses should never be left to take care of themselves through the night4 ,the living rooms should be properly ventilated1 heated1 and provided with bath rooms1 and everything within reason done to make those who care for the horses at least as comfortable as the horses4 ,racing stables1 breeding stables1 stables for twenty and thirty horses1 are subjects in themselves1 although the principles outlined here must of necessity obtain in a good stable of whatever size and for whatever purpose4 ,there are two stables1 that ,i have seen1 and probably others1 where money has waved experience to one side1 and insisted upon this or that1 where a pliant architect has obeyed1 and they are both useless4 ,there is such a thing--it was discovered in these cases--as having a stable too big1 and of attempting to house too many horses under one roof4 ,,chapter ,,vi ,,feeding ,,and ,,stable ,,management ,experience has shown that one man can care for three horses2 that two men can care for seven2 three men are needed for ten1 and so on4 ,but even this must be modified4 ,where the members of the family live in the country and do most of their own driving1 these figures are correct1 but in an establishment where two men are required on the box with one or more vehicles1 and a groom must accompany each trap1 and there is1 to boot1 a fair amount of riding1 additional help is needed in the stable1 if everything is to go smoothly2 and horses1 harnesses1 saddles1 and carriages are to be turned out well4 ,the whole problem of the care and system of a stable centres around the horse1 and more particularly the horse's stomach4 ,no animal1 in proportion to its size1 has such a small stomach as a horse4 ,the stomach of a man1 whose weight is one-eighth of that of a horse1 will hold something more than three quarts of water2 while the stomach of a horse will only hold three gallons1 or four times that quantity4 ,the great bulk of the horse requires a large quantity of food1 and what food he eats digests and passes through him quickly4 ,if this were not so1 the stomach would for a large part of the time be so distended and so press upon other organs of the body that his usefulness would be seriously impaired4 ,he must1 therefore1 be fed regularly and often1 that is to say1 three times a day at least1 and four times is better4 ,the management of the stable must hinge1 therefore1 upon the meal hours of its inmates and their use by the owners--where horses must do duty at an early train in the morning and another train in the evening1 or where horses are out shopping from #aa ,a4,m4 to #a4cj ,p4,m4 and there is driving and riding in the afternoon1 and night duty as well1 the routine of the stable must be adapted to those demands4 ,in the case of a large stable1 where three or four men are kept1 a regular routine of duty should be laid out as on shipboard1 with hours and duties clearly set down1 otherwise confusion will reign4 ,in a small stable the requirements of the family should be so far as possible along regular lines1 and in all cases everywhere no coachman or groom ought to be subjected to calls for horses without warning4 ,by nine o'clock in the morning the orders for horses wanted up to noon should be given2 by two o'clock the orders for horses wanted up to eight o'clock4 ,this cannot be done always1 but it ought to be done so far as possible1 otherwise the best-natured and most systematic man in the world will find it impossible to keep his stable running smoothly1 his horses fed and watered and dressed at the proper times1 and1 most important of all1 his horses ready for work when they are needed4 ,a horse just watered1 or with a stomach full of hay1 or with a hearty feed in him1 is perhaps the most uncomfortable of all conveyances1 and if worked hard under the circumstances does himself serious injury4 ,there is no real pleasure1 no real sport1 in this world that does not entail intelligence and labor4 ,it is one of the greatest of pleasures1 one of the most wholesome sports1 to own1 to ride1 and to drive horses4 ,but to have a stable of1 say1 from three to ten horses and to get your own fun out of it1 requires work1 intelligence1 and oversight4 ,visit your friends who have horses and see how often this horse cannot go out1 that horse cannot go out4 ,one is lame1 another has a sore back1 another is used up from yesterday1 and so on4 ,or look about you at the condition of your neighbors' horses1--tired-looking1 staring coats1 bags of bones to look at1 rattling carriages and ill-fitting harnesses1 interfering1 and overreaching2 and these establishments cost money and are supposed to give pleasure4 ,how shall we avoid all this8 ,if you have no interest in your stable and have no time1 say half an hour a day1 to devote to it1 and no other member of the family knows or cares anything about it1 by all means job your horses and do not attempt a stable4 ,at least you can avoid being particeps criminis in the ruining of horses1 the spoiling of coachmen and grooms1 and the wasteful destruction of harnesses and carriages4 ,but if you have a stable1 look after it4 ,provide yourself with a ,stable ,book2 a long-leaved book of a hundred and fifty pages1--the left-hand page with the month at the top and thirty-one spaces below for days of the month4 ,at the top as headings have ,feed--,shoeing--,repairs--,cash--,misce llaneous4 ,on the right-hand page have blank space for ,remarks and any details about horses1 veterinary visits1 horses bought or sold4 ,the coachman should enter against the proper dates what horses are shod and how1 what feed comes in1 all articles1 including clothes1 purchased1 and all other details4 ,this book comes in at the end of the month1 to be compared with the owners' bills1 and he should add the amounts and check off the items4 ,both the coachman and the owner should know to a penny what the stable is costing4 ,we have all probably discovered that we do not know where to save1 if we do not know how we spend4 ,the beginning of all economy is the knowledge of expenditures4 ,it may be maintained just here that all this is too much trouble6 ,those who feel that way had best close the book4 ,neither this chapter nor any of the others is written for those who know it all1--of whom1 alas1 there are so many1--nor for those who do not wish to know anything which entails trouble4 ,the necessary implements for the work of the stable should be furnished willingly1 and buckets1 hose1 forks1 hangers1 clothes1 chamois1 hooks1 brooms1 sponges1 should be kept in repair or renewed4 ,it is a poor plan to economize at the working end of the stable4 ,one or two horses or traps less1 or a groom less1 but let what you have be good of its kind and be kept good4 ,once a week the stable should be washed out1 polished1 and dusted1 and sprinkled with ,sanitas or some other good disinfectant1 and the owner should1 as they say on shipboard1 have quarters4 ,look over everything from end to end2 if you do not take that much interest in the matter1 it is not likely that the executive officer at the stable will retain a very enthusiastic interest in the affairs of the stable for long4 ,a man with half an eye can tell1 from the horses1 harnesses1 and vehicles he sees1 whether the owners coperate with their coachmen or not4 ,a man should be able to groom a horse thoroughly in from thirty to forty minutes1 and this work should be done1 if possible1 away from the other horses4 ,a good routine for stable management can only be worked out by each man for himself1 according to the regular demands upon the stable from the family1 as a basis4 ,although horses are kept primarily to work1 it is by no means easy1 although of all things most necessary1 that they should have exercise regularly4 ,many of the accidents and much of the illness in most stables arise from irregular exercise and careless feeding4 ,the average horse in the private stable should be out two hours a day1 and should do ten miles4 ,with one day's rest in seven1 seasoned horses can do more than this--up to fifteen1 and even more1 miles a day--and be the better for it4 ,their muscles harden1 respiratory organs are less liable to disease1 and1 strange as it may sound to the uninitiated1 their feet and legs do better1 even when the work is on hard roads4 ,swelled legs1 founder1 azoturia1 colic1 and the like are more often the result of overfeeding and under exercising than the reverse4 ,if the feet are washed out when the horse returns to the stable--being careful to dry the legs thoroughly--and stopped at night with a sponge or bit of thick felt1 these precautions1 with regular exercise and judicious feeding1 will do more than anything else to keep your horses in condition to go when you want them4 ,coachmanitis and groomaturia sometimes interfere with the owner's wish to use his horses2 and where this malady is of frequent occurrence1 a prolonged holiday is the only remedy4 ,there are some men who are constitutionally unfitted to get on with men under them4 ,they are not necessarily bad men1 but1 from their golf caddy to their butlers and secretaries1 they are disliked4 ,one woman will run her house year after year without friction2 another1 of the bumptious variety1 will supervise the whole universe1 while her husband1 children1 and household drift1 growl1 and suffer4 ,one man will step aboard a yacht1 and his crew and officers will pull and haul and quarrel and leave2 while another1 with the same men1 will have no trouble4 ,the writer has no prescription to offer for the curing of fussy wives or bad masters4 ,it is not to be expected that even the ,almighty will create a man who shall combine the attributes of ,oliver ,cromwell and ,heinrich ,heine4 ,but in this matter of the management of the stable there are a few rules worth keeping in mind4 ,don't use your influence till you get it6 ,don't worry yourself or others about trifles6 ,in the vital matters of honesty1 sobriety1 carefulness1 neatness1 be insistent and positive4 ,don't put on airs about things of which you know less than your coachman4 ,don't show your damned authority--as the ,irishman with his pig--just for the pleasure of showing it6 ,horses1 no doubt1 lived upon grasses and the like when they cared for themselves4 ,horses even now can do a certain amount of slow work upon hay alone1 but to do this a large quantity is needed1 say from eighteen pounds to twenty pounds4 ,but by a mixture of food a horse can be made to do more and faster and more exhausting work4 ,hay--good hay--is short1 fine1 agreeable to smell and taste1 hard and crisp1 and is generally mixed with clover1 and the best hay is one year old--is the basis of all feeding4 ,an average allowance is about twelve pounds a day1 with the larger quantity given at night4 ,a little hay also at noon helps digestion4 ,if a horse is wanted for fast work1 eight pounds of hay is enough4 ,a horse does his work more comfortably to himself if his stomach is somewhat empty rather than distended with hay4 ,the feeding of the hay should be regulated so that the animal is not given his hay just before going to work1 but at the meal after he comes in4 ,many coachmen are great believers in chopped hay or chaff4 ,there is not much saving in feeding hay in this way--none at all if it is bought already in the form of chaff--although a little chaff mixed with the other food requires more time in mastication and hence is better for digestion4 ,hay should be fed from the bottom of the stall4 ,oats--good oats are heavy1 thin-skinned1 clean1 hard and sweet1 and without musty smell4 ,good oats will weigh from #db to #de pounds to the bushel2 fair oats1 #ch to #dj pounds4 ,horses in average work should have from eight to ten quarts of oats a day4 ,where the work of the horses is severe1 they should have as much as they want4 ,the cavalry allowance is ten quarts a day1 which is a good medium allowance4 ,the rations of oats should be increased or decreased according to the amount of work the horse is doing4 ,oats may be boiled or steamed1 may be flavored with ginger or a little black jack molasses1 or even mixed with a few slices of apples for nervous or bad feeders4 ,if a horse gobbles his feed1 it is well to sprinkle his oats with dry bran1 or to mix them with chaff4 ,barley1 beans1 peas1 are not much used in private stables1 though beans for a horse in hard work or for fattening are valuable4 ,a quart of crushed beans mixed with the other food at night is recommended4 ,they should be at least a year old1 weigh from #fj to #fd pounds to the bushel1 and be hard1 plump1 and sweet4 ,corn is used largely in the ,west for horses1 but seldom in the ,east1 in private stables4 ,it is a strong1 fattening food1 and1 served to the horses on the ear1 is good for teeth and gums1 and makes them eat slowly4 ,it should not be fed in quantity1 but as a change1 or a cob or two at a time with other food4 ,bran--should be dry1 sweet-tasting1 free from mould--is not exactly an article of food4 ,it may be fed with other feed1 but is usually given once or twice a week in the form of a mash1 preferably the night before a day of light work or no work at all4 ,linseed is an aperient1 like bran1 and is used to moisten food that is too constipating1 and is recommended strongly by some authorities in the form of a mash mixed with bran or as a jelly in the case of horses out of condition and needing a palatable stimulant4 ,it is also conducive to glossiness of coat and healthiness of skin1 but unless used sparingly affects the wind4 ,apples1 boiled potatoes1 carrots1 black molasses1 clover1 or other fresh forage may all be used as a change of diet4 ,this last should be given sparingly at first1 for it is often the cause of serious trouble when given in quantity all at once4 ,carrots are altogether the best substitute for fresh grass4 ,they can be given without harm1 occasionally1 the year round1 either alone or mixed with other food--always cut up lengthwise1 otherwise the horse may choke on them4 ,remember1 always1 the smallness of the horse's stomach in feeding him4 ,when left to himself1 he will graze all day long1 eating1 however1 but little at a time4 ,when he comes in tired1 give him a little food1 a mash or gruel1 or1 if he is to have a hard day1 carry a little oatmeal and a bottle of ,bass for his luncheon4 ,if you are caught far from home with a tired horse1 almost any house can furnish oatmeal1 warm water1 and1 if procurable1 a small amount of stimulant added1 and this1 with a good rubbing down1 will make another horse of your tired beast4 ,though the stomach of the horse is small1 his water capacity is large4 ,the water he drinks does not remain in the stomach1 but passes directly through it1 and the small intestines to the ccum 7one of the large intestines74 ,except where a horse is ill1 overheated1 or overtired1 he may be allowed to drink as much as he will4 ,horses should always1 too1 be watered before they are fed1 for reasons obvious from what has been said of the horse's stomach4 ,horses should be watered the last thing at night1 say #aj ,p4,m4 ,no horse should be tortured by being kept without water from #g ,p4,m4 till #f ,a4,m4 ,this is cruelty and soon tells on the horse to his great and very perceptible disadvantage4 ,even horses coming in from work in warm weather may have a small quantity1 but only a small quantity1 of water while they are being cooled out and rubbed down4 ,no overheated1 tired horse should be allowed to fill himself up with cold water2 neither1 on the other hand1 should he be kept in a raging thirst indefinitely4 ,salt is so necessary a part of the horse's diet that it is best to have a piece of rock salt weighing two or three pounds always in his manger1 rather than to leave it to his feeders to give him so much at each meal1 which often results in an irregular supply4 ,express companies and other large owners and users of horses have been experimenting with molasses as a food4 ,it has been used1 too1 in both the ,french and ,german armies4 ,one quart of molasses1 three quarts of water1 one and one-half pounds of corn meal1 one and one-half pounds of bran1 and six pounds of cut hay1 is the proper mixture for one horse1 and should be fed morning and evening1 with some dry oats at noon4 ,this is1 of course1 very much cheaper than the usual methods of feeding1 and in a number of cases has proved successful4 ,the writer has seen horses fed upon this diet2 they did the slow and heavy work in large brewers' wagons1 and looked sleek and well1 and were said to do their work as well if not better than on the old system of feeding4 ,it is difficult to use molasses in private stables1 particularly in summer1 when it attracts flies and sours when left in the manger1 but it is a good adjunct to the bill of fare in any stable1 and anything that gives variety and is wholesome is valuable as a food4 ,,table4--,,nutritive ,,value ,,of ,,certain ,,articles ,,of ,,diet ,,in #ajj ,,parts ,,salts ,,cellulose ,,carbohydrates ,,fats ,,albuminates ,,water ,,articles ,grass1 before blossom #ge4j #c4j #j4h #ab4i #g4j #b4j ,grass1 after blossom #fi4j #b4e #j4g #ae4j #aa4e #b4j ,meadow hay #ad4c #h4b #b4j #da4c #cj4j #f4b ,oats #ad4c #ab4j #f4j #fj4i #aj4c #c4j ,barley #ad4c #i4e #b4e #ff4f #g4j #b4f ,maize1 ,indian #ab4i #i4bc #a4ei #fh4j #e4j #a4ff ,peas #ad4c #bb4d #b4e #eb4c #i4b #b4e ,beans #ad4e #be4e #b4j #de4e #aa4e #c4e ,rice #ad4f #g4e #j4e #gf4e #j4i #j4e ,linseed #aa4h #ba4g #cg4j #ag4e #h4j #d4j ,bran #ac4a #ad4j #c4h #ej4j #ag4h #e4a ,carrots #he4j #a4e #j4b #aj4h #a4g #a4j ,linseed cake #ab4d #bg4c #ab4h #cd4e #f4e #f4a ,represent muscleforming ingredients ,maintenance of animal heat ,wasterepairing ingredients ,woodyfibre ingredients1 stimulate digestion and separate richer particles of food ,,table4--,,common ,,weights ,,and ,,measures #a quart oats #a pound #a ton hay #bjjj pounds #a quartern oats #b pounds #a bale hay #cjj pounds 7varies #a peck oats #h pounds #ej pounds7 #a bag oats #fe pounds #a ton loose hay occupies about 7#a lb4 for the weight of bag7 #ejj cubic feet #b pints oats #a quart #a ton baled hay occupies space #b quarts oats #a quartern of about #aj cubic yards #h quarts oats #a peck #a ton straw #bjjj pounds #d pecks oats #a bushel #a bale straw #bej pounds 7varies #b bushels oats #a bag #ej pounds7 #a ton loose straw occupies space of about #fjj cubic feet #a ton baled straw occupies space of about #ab cubic yards ,,chapter ,,vii ,,first ,,aid ,,to ,,the ,,injured ,it is a dangerous thing for owners to doctor their own horses1 unless they are practically veterinarians by experience1 or profession4 ,it is even more dangerous to leave such matters to the man in the stable4 ,an omniscient coachman can do more harm to his cattle than all other evil surroundings combined4 ,to treat a horse for a wrongly diagnosed malady1 with half-understood remedies1 is the height of folly and the acme of cruelty4 ,on the other hand1 there are certain simple remedies and certain familiar maladies1 of which the horse-owner ought to know something for his own1 and his horse's protection4 ,the range of pulse per minute in a healthy adult horse is from thirty-four to thirty-eight4 ,in disease the range is from as low as twenty to as high as one hundred and twenty4 ,the fore and middle finger should be placed transversely on the artery inside of the jaw1 near the jowl1 to feel the pulse4 ,do this often when your horses are in health1 and thus accustom yourself to find the pulse instantly and to note its pulsations accurately in time of need4 ,the average temperature of the horse is #ajj ,f41 a third more or less4 ,the temperature of the horse is taken by the insertion of a clinical thermometer in the rectum1 where it should remain five minutes4 ,horses registering a temperature as high as #ajf have recovered1 but above this death generally ensues4 ,nursing1 in cases where the ordinary ailments are concerned1 is better than blistering and firing1 which are more spectacular and to the half-ignorant more popular4 ,good laxative foods are green grass1 green wheat1 oats1 or barley1 carrots1 parsnips1 bran mash1 linseed tea1 hay tea1 and linseed oil4 ,a gallon of gruel may be made from a pound of meal put into cold water1 placed on the fire and stirred till boiling1 and then allowed to simmer till the water is thick4 ,a bran mash should be made in a clean bucket2 three pounds of bran1 one ounce of salt1 two pints and a half of boiling water1 covered and allowed to stand twenty minutes or so till it is cooked4 ,a ,bran and ,linseed ,mash4--,boil one pound of linseed slowly for two hours or more1 add two pounds of bran1 one ounce of salt2 the whole to be stirred up and allowed to steam4 ,the thicker the mash1 the better4 ,linseed ,tea4--,boil one pound of linseed in two gallons of water until the grains are soft4 ,hay ,tea4--,fill a clean bucket with clean hay1 then pour on as much boiling water as the bucket will hold1 then cover and allow to stand till cool1 when the liquid may be strained off and used4 ,linseed oil1 from a quarter to half a pint daily may be mixed with the other food1 keeps the bowels and skin in good condition2 but no artificial stimulant as food should be used constantly4 ,in weakening diseases or low fever1 or in cases of severe exhaustion1 a quart of ale or porter1 or a pint of port or sherry1 may be given mixed with the mash4 ,oatmeal and ale are easy to carry1 and a palatable mash can be made quickly of these with a little warm water almost anywhere1 and nothing will help out a tired horse more4 ,common cold is an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the nostrils and air passages4 ,symptoms are loss of appetite1 staring coat1 tendency to sweat easily1 and discharge from the nostrils4 ,treatment3 removal to loose box1 plenty of fresh air1 well blanketed if cold weather1 bandages for the legs1 laxative diet1 green food1 warm mashes instead of oats1 and plenty of water4 ,if the irritation and cough continue and the running at the nose is bad1 the head may be steamed by holding it over a pail of hot water4 ,if the horse becomes and continues feverish1 a dose of one to two drams of nitrate of potash may be given daily for two or three days4 ,where the cold is accompanied by sore throat and difficulty of swallowing1 give nitrate of potassium1 one dram to half a bucket of water three times a day4 ,a good liniment to use on the throat and to be well rubbed in is mustard and water rubbed on and allowed to remain half an hour and then washed off1 or two parts linseed oil1 one part turpentine1 and one part solution of ammonia4 ,colic is caused by bad food1 change of diet1 sudden exposure4 ,the horse gives evidence of spasmodic pain1 turns his head toward his flank1 bites and kicks1 and even rolls4 ,as an immediate remedy1 give a pint of gruel with two ounces spirit of nitrous ether1 one ounce tincture of opium1 and half an ounce of aromatic spirits of ammonia4 ,there should be relief within the hour2 if not1 repeat the dose1 and use oil and warm water as an injection4 ,diarrha1 in the form of scouring1 may be a natural effort to get rid of some obnoxious substance4 ,horses that are not well ribbed up or of a nervous temperament are prone to it4 ,feed dry food after giving a laxative of half a pint of raw linseed oil4 ,give an infusion of gentian1 one ounce1 and one to two ounces tincture of opium4 ,worms4--,several kinds of worms are found in the horse's intestines1 but the most common is the bony white worm tapering at both ends4 ,the horse loses condition in spite of a voracious appetite4 ,after a fast of twelve hours1 give a dose of two ounces of turpentine in a pint of linseed oil with half an ounce of tincture of opium4 ,injections of a weak solution of salt serve to clear away the smaller worms that inhabit the rectum4 ,change of food and salt are good4 ,irregular ,teeth4--,the molars sometimes grow into sharp edges4 ,the horse feeds badly1 hogs on one side of his mouth in driving1 and shows sometimes signs of inflammation in the mouth4 ,the remedy is the simple one of having the teeth filed down smooth and even4 ,scratches4--,a very common condition of the skin in the hollow of the heel1 sometimes called cracked heels4 ,it is caused by exposure to wet1 cold1 and dirt ,the skin is inflamed and dry and a watery discharge exudes4 ,keep the parts dry and clean1 wash with warm water and ,ivory soap4 ,dust with powdered alum three times a day4 ,or apply a dressing composed of one part of carbolic acid to twenty of oil or glycerine and keep there with a soft bandage around the pastern and heel4 ,wounds and bruises1 whether the skin is broken or not1 should be carefully bathed in warm water1 three parts of carbolic acid to one hundred of water4 ,warm linseed poultices may then be applied4 ,in all serious cases of this kind little more can be done than to relieve the animal till the veterinarian comes4 ,in minor casualties1 as cases of sprained tendons1 bruises1 and the like1 a cooling antiseptic wash is3 four ounces of witch-hazel1 two ounces of spirits of camphor1 two ounces of tincture of opium mixed in an equal amount of water4 ,splints4--,probably eighty per cent of horses have splints and not over five per cent remain lame from them4 ,a splint is an enlargement or horny excrescence of a part of the shank bone4 ,it is more common in young than old horses4 ,splints caused by striking in action1 on the contrary1 are ample cause for judging a horse unsound4 ,when a splint begins forming1 shave off the hair about it and rub in an ointment of biniodide of mercury for three days1 then apply a strong blister4 ,the best blister is composed of one ounce powdered ,spanish flies1 one ounce powdered resin1 four ounces of lard4 ,mix the lard and resin1 and then add the ,spanish flies4 ,after blistering a horse1 his head must be tied up for forty-eight hours at least1 to prevent his getting at the irritated part4 ,shoe boils are usually caused by the pressure of the shoe when the horse lies down4 ,the boil should be opened and drained and a three per cent solution of zinc sulphate injected4 ,the horse must then wear a shoe-boil boot at night4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xvi4--,,skeleton ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xvii4--,,internal ,,parts ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,,skeleton ,,of ,,the ,,horse #a4 ,eye cavity #ba4 ,great trochanter #b4 ,face bones #bb4 ,thigh bone #c4 ,incisor teeth #bc4 ,ischium #d4 ,molar teeth #bd4 ,radius1 or forearm bone #e4 ,lower jaw #be4 ,carpal1 or knee bones #f4 ,first vertebra of neck #bf4 ,trapezium #g4 ,second vertebra of neck #bg4 ,cannon bones #h4 ,cervical vertebr #bh4 ,pastern bones #i4 ,spinal processes of back #bi4 ,sesamoid bone #aj4 ,dorsal and lumbar vertebr #cj4 ,small pastern bone #aa4 ,sacrum #ca4 ,upper end of leg bone #ab4 ,tail bones #cb4 ,stifle joint #ac4 ,shoulder blade #cc4 ,leg bone1 or tibia #ad4 ,hollow of shoulder blade #cd4 ,point of hock #ae4 ,upper end of arm bone #ce4 ,hock joint #af4 ,arm bone1 or humerus #cf4 ,head of small metatarsal bone #ag4 ,elbow bone #cg4 ,cannon of metatarsal bone #ah4 ,ribs #ch4 ,coffin bone #ai4 ,haunch #ci4 ,fetlock #bj4 ,haunch bone #dj4 ,patella1 or stifle #da4 ,fibula ,nail in the ,foot4--,remove the nail and pare the wound as near the bottom as possible1 disinfect with a solution of carbolic acid1 one in thirty1 then linseed poultice the foot for two or three days and let the foot be shod with oakum and a leather sole till healed4 ,an old-fashioned remedy is to apply a piece of salt pork1 flesh side in1 and bandage it on the part4 ,chafing1 ,collar1 and ,saddle ,galls4--,properly fitting harness and saddles is the preventive4 ,a mild astringent wash1 say four ounces witch-hazel1 two ounces spirits of camphor1 two ounces tincture of opium1 will serve1 and the part to be without pressure or rubbing till healed4 ,for inflamed legs or galled shoulders another excellent wash is3 one ounce of sal ammoniac1 seven ounces of vinegar1 two ounces of spirits of wine1 two drams of tincture of arnica mixed in half a pint of water4 ,broken knees should be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected with a solution of carbolic4 ,hot fomentations are good1 and the wound should be dressed with burned alum or with alum and boracic acid in equal parts dissolved in water4 ,laminitis or ,foot ,founders4--,remove the shoes1 place the feet in hot water for an hour1 poultice twice a day for four or five days4 ,as the horse is without exercise1 give him a gentle purgative1 half to a quart of linseed oil1 two drams of ginger1 one dram nux vomica as a drench1 then four ounces of nitrate of potash and four drams gentian1 known as founder powder1 daily4 ,chills1 after violent exertion when the horse is unfit for work1 or from undue exposure4 ,clothe warmly1 rub ears and legs1 and give stimulants1 one and one-half ounce spirits of nitrous ether1 one-half ounce aromatic spirits of ammonia to one pint of water1 is a valuable remedy in any case of prostration4 ,strained or bruised tendons1--first hot fomentations1 then a cooling lotion1 such as vinegar and water2 or two ounces witch-hazel1 two ounces spirits of camphor1 two ounces laudanum2 or four ounces acetate of ammonia1 four ounces spirits of wine1 eight ounces water4 ,lameness had best be left for diagnosis to the expert1 unless the lameness is the result of injury and the seat of the trouble plainly visible4 ,firing and blistering should be a last resort4 ,do not expect too much of the veterinary2 except in simple cases their task is often a blind one4 ,the best way to save trouble is to begin at the beginning1 by studying the horse1 the stable1 the food1 and the care of the horses yourself2 and this elementary knowledge1 with careful handling when the horses are in harness or under saddle1 make the best ball1 drench1 lotion1 or fomentation known4 ,it is not intended in this chapter to suggest more than can be understood and carried out by an intelligent man1 with a few simple and non-dangerous remedies4 ,rice-water gruel1 made thick1 is a soothing drink1 and useful in continued scouring or diarrha4 ,alcohol is to be rubbed into the skin of horses who are apt to chafe easily under harness or saddle4 ,it hardens the skin4 ,vinegar and water is a cooling lotion4 ,fomentation means the continued application of hot cloths wrung out to the injured part4 ,purgative1 a popular purgative is composed of eight parts of aloes1 two parts of glycerine1 one part powdered ginger1 well-mixed and given in a dose of from six to eight drams4 ,linseed oil is also a purgative and less irritating than aloes2 the dose is from ten to thirty ounces4 ,stimulant1 one ounce aromatic spirits of ammonia1 one ounce tincture of gentian1 one pint of water4 ,useful in all cases of severe prostration4 ,tonics4--,the mineral tonics had best be left to the veterinary4 ,a quart of good ale warmed and two drams of grated ginger is a simple cordial drench4 ,a safe vegetable tonic is two ounces of tincture of gentian in a pint of water4 ,a good tonic powder is3 two drams of gentian1 two drams of ginger1 one-half dram of fenugreek4 ,for acidity of the stomach1 and to prevent tendency to colic1 a tablespoonful of bicarbonate of soda1 powdered gentian1 powdered ginger1 mixed in equal parts and sprinkled over the feed1 is harmless and a valuable minor tonic4 ,to cool a horse quickly and effectively1 dash water between the fore legs1 between the hind legs1 over the head1 and down the back or spine4 ,an overheated1 almost prostrated1 horse may often be saved serious if not fatal trouble in our hot climate by a bath of this kind4 ,in private stables1 water is seldom used1 except on the feet1 to wash out the mouth1 eyes1 sheath1 and anus1 and on the legs of white or gray horses4 ,but this should not be taken as the article of a creed4 ,a bath1 or shampoo1 all over does no horse harm1 and all horses good1 in our hot climate1 if precautions are taken to dry them thoroughly and close the pores if necessary by a rub-down with alcohol4 ,in cases of actual sunstroke1 souse the horse well1 all over with water1 if possible from a hose1 and an easily prepared remedy is3 an ounce of aromatic spirits of ammonia1 two ounces of whiskey in half a pint of water--give this every hour1 till the horse is relieved4 ,flexible collodion is a valuable remedy in any stable4 ,in case of wounds or cuts that do not need sewing1 shave the hair about the cut1 cleanse carefully1 and apply the collodion with a camel's-hair brush2 this will keep the edges together1 and in minor wounds no other remedy is necessary4 ,iodoform is one of the very best antiseptics for either man or beast1 and may be dusted on wounds2 or two parts of iodoform and eight parts of cosmoline make an ointment that may be a more convenient way of applying it4 ,the well-known white lotion for bruises1 sprains1 inflammation1 sore backs1 shoulders1 or any part of the animal rubbed by the harness or saddle1 or by accident is3 one ounce acetate of lead1 one ounce sulphate of zinc mixed in a quart of water1 to be used as a lotion4 ,nitrate of potassium is useful when you wish to promote the action of the skin and kidneys or to reduce fever4 ,it should be given dissolved in the drinking-water in doses of from two drams to an ounce three times a day4 ,it is the most valuable remedy known in cases of founder1 and may be given in doses of from two to three ounces three times a day1 and may be continued without danger for two or three days4 ,salicylic acid is another remedy1 equally good for man or beast1 as an antiseptic to be dusted upon wounds and indolent sores1 proud flesh3 for rheumatism1 one dram of the salicylic acid with two drams of bicarbonate of soda1 given twice a day1 is as good as anything4 ,but when all is said and done on this subject1 it must be repeated again and again that1 regularity as to time1 and variety as to fodder in feeding1 plenty of water1 regular exercise1 peace and quiet during rest hours1 a dry stable1 thorough grooming1 the eye of the master1 and the interest of the man in the stable1--these taken daily in large doses make the best prescription in the world for the continued health and usefulness of your horses4 ,,tables #a dram ounce teaspoonful #b drams ounce dessertspoonful #c drams ounce one teaspoonful and one dessertspoonful #d drams ounce two dessertspoonfuls #h drams #a ounce four dessertspoonfuls #b ounces wineglassful #d ounces teacupful ,,doses ,,according ,,to ,,age ,for a yearling one-third of adult dose ,for a two-year-old one-half of adult dose ,for a three-year-old two-thirds of adult dose ,for a four-year-old three-fourths of adult dose ,for a five-year-old full dose1 or adult dose ,,chapter ,,viii ,,shoeing ,the shoeing of horses was not known to the earliest users of horses4 ,it is true the ,romans used a sort of leather sock1 with an iron plate beneath1 and the extravagant ,poppa1 the wife of ,nero1 had gold plates on her favorite horses1 as wives of similar traditions to-day1 have silver bath-tubs and satin sheets4 ,when the monument to ,childeric1 the father of ,clovis1 the founder of the ,french monarchy1 was discovered in #afec1 a horseshoe was found therein4 ,it was the custom then1 as at one time among our own ,indians1 to bury the horse and his owner together4 ,polydore ,vergil writes1 ,hos quoque ,pelethronios ,thessaliae primos equorum ungulas munire ferreis soleis coepisse ferunt4 ,as we have related in another chapter1 ,william the ,conqueror shod his horses4 ,the horse's foot is so apparently the most important part of him to his owner1 that every horse owner should at least know the elementary first principles of the formation and shoeing of the foot and should always bear in mind1 no foot no horse4 ,the foot is a sensitive structure1 with two bones and part of the third1 viz4 the coffin-bone1 navicular or shuttle bone1 and the lower or smaller pastern bone enclosed in a horny case4 ,this case is deepest in front where it is called the toe1 and shallower at the sides which are called the quarters1 and narrowest behind where it is called the heel4 ,this outer case is fibrous1 the fibres running from above to below as they grow from where the skin terminates1 and consists of the outer case or wall and the bars1 which are the continuation of the crust under the foot1 and between the triangle of which lies the frog4 7,plate ,,xix47 ,the horse1 as a wild animal left to care for himself1 had a beautiful cushion1 the frog1 to run on1 protected by the horny1 tough case and bars1 which renew themselves as do the nails of a man4 ,hard roads1 heavy weights to carry and to pull1 and confinement in stables developed shoeing as a necessity4 ,very few men own their horses2 the horses are generally1 except for a legal right which is a formality1 the property of the coachmen and the blacksmith4 ,they dictate when1 and how1 and how far they shall go1 and the owner for lack of a little study of the subject accepts their say-so4 ,,external ,,parts ,,of ,,the ,,horse #a4 ,lips #ag4 ,back #ce4 ,pastern #b4 ,nose #ah4 ,ribs #cf4 ,coronet #c4 ,face #ai4 ,girth #cg4 ,foot #d4 ,forehead #bj4 ,loins #ch4 ,fetlock #e4 ,eyebrows #ba4 ,croup #ci4 ,haunch #f4 ,forelock #bb4 ,tail #dj4 ,thigh #g4 ,ears #bc4 ,dock #da4 ,stifle #h4 ,lower jaw #bd4 ,flank #db4 ,buttock #i4 ,cheek #be4 ,belly #dc4 ,gaskin #aj4 ,nostril #bf4 ,sheath #dd4 ,hock #aa4 ,poll #bg4 ,testicles #de4 ,chestnut #aa;a4 ,throat #bh4 ,shoulder and arm #df4 ,shank #ab4 ,parotid gland #bi4 ,elbow #dg4 ,fetlock joint #ac4 ,neck #cj4 ,forearm #dh4 ,fetlock #ac;a4 ,mane #ca4 ,chestnut #di4 ,pastern #ad4 ,jugular channel #cb4 ,knee #ej4 ,coronet #ae4 ,chest #cc4 ,shank #ea4 ,foot #af4 ,withers #cd4 ,fetlock joint ,,foot ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,a a4 ,the coffin bone b4 ,the lower or smaller pastern bone c4 ,the upper or larger pastern bone d4 ,the shank bone e4 ,the sesamoid bone l4 ,the navicular1 or shuttle bone m4 ,inner frog1 sensitive p4 ,seat of lameness1 navicular joint r4 ,coronary ring ,b a4 ,the coronary ring b4 ,horny lining of crust d4 ,the bars e4 ,inside of horny frog f4 ,cleft of the frog g4 ,the frog h4 ,outside wall or crust ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xviii4--,,external ,,parts ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xix4--,,foot ,,of ,,the ,,horse ,the feet of a horse do not wear out1 as do his teeth1 for instance4 ,an old horse may have1 barring accident1 just as good feet as a young one4 ,nature has provided amply for the renewal of the frog and the sole and the crust of the horse's hoof4 ,but in order that this renewal should not be interfered with1 the foot should be kept clean1 moist1 and well shod4 ,as the foot is kept on hard substances in and out of the stable1 and not as nature intended in contact with the moist ground1 this moisture should be supplied artificially by stopping the feet once or twice a week4 ,if the foot is not cleaned each time the horse comes in1 the tender frog and sole become diseased2 if the frog and sole are not moistened1 but kept dry1 the frog and sole crack1 chip1 and fail to renew themselves properly2 if shoes too big or too small1 or shoes that do not fit the crust and bars are put on1 or if nails are put in carelessly or pulled out roughly1 the foot contracts1 corns appear1 and you have a lame1 an unnecessarily lame1 horse on your hands4 ,the fore feet are nearly circular in a healthy horse1 the hind feet more oval in form4 ,it is no economy not to shoe horses at least every three or four weeks1 whether the shoes are worn out or not2 for the simple reason that the shoes are nailed to a substance which is always growing1 and after that interval of time the shoe no longer fits the foot4 ,the shoe should be made and put on to fit the foot1 and no blacksmith should be allowed to rasp the foot down to fit the shoe4 ,the crust or wall of the foot is about three-quarters of an inch wide in most horses1 and this is the proper width for the shoe1 and the shoe to be flat toward the foot4 ,if the shoe is wider1 as is often the case1--go over your horse's feet and see1--it leaves a little shelf for stones and dirt1 and a horse going in wet1 heavy ground may even have his shoes pulled wholly off by suction4 ,the shoes should be as wide as this crust to the heels1 but where the crust narrows at the juncture with the bars1 the shoe should narrow too4 ,for the ordinary horse for riding or driving1 neither a racer nor a hunter1 a shoe may weigh from nine to fourteen ounces4 ,it is to be remembered in this connection1 that shoes grow rapidly lighter as they get thinner from wear4 ,this should be considered in deciding upon the weight of a horse's shoes4 ,big work horses are sometimes shod with shoes weighing five1 six1 and seven pounds4 ,as few nails as possible to make the shoe secure is best--five to seven is enough4 ,as the inside of the crust of the hoof is always thinner and more elastic than the outside on account of the greater weight it bears1 contraction is generally found on the inside2 use two nails inside and three outside1 or three inside and four outside1 if seven are necessary4 ,the outside crust is thicker and stronger than the inside crust of the heel and affords more nailhold4 ,no matter what the blacksmith or the coachman--who is often only his echo--says1 insist that the bars of the horse's feet shall on no account be cut away4 ,the wall of the hoof is not only much weakened by this operation1 but the hoof must1 in consequence of it1 contract toward the heel4 ,the reason advanced for doing this is that it allows room for expansion1 when as a matter of fact1 with the bars cut away1 there is nothing to keep the foot open1 and there follow contraction and corns4 ,corns mean lameness1 a timid way of putting the feet down1 and hence stumbling1 and corns are very difficult to get rid of4 ,look at the healthy foot of a horse and see for yourself that this must be so1 and then have your horses shod as though they really belonged to you4 ,remember that most blacksmiths shoe the horse to look well on the outside4 ,it should be your business to insist that he be so shod that the hoof shall keep well on the inside6 ,to discuss different styles of shoes1 questions of balancing horses for speed or action1 would require a treatise by itself4 ,it is fair to condense advice on the subject by saying that the lightest and closest-fitting shoe that will suit the work and the peculiarities of moving of the horse will be the best for him4 ,do not allow paring of the sole and frog2 have light shoes properly fitted2 use as few nails as possible2 make the shoe to fit the foot1 and permit no rasping1 burning1 and paring to fit the foot to the shoe2 do not allow the front of the hoof to be rasped4 ,it must not be forgotten in this matter of shoeing that there are no muscles below the knee and the hock1 and the muscles used to move the legs are high up4 ,what weighs little at the shoulder or stifle weighs very much more at the end of the leg4 ,take a stick three feet long and put a pound-weight on it next your hand1 then transfer the pound-weight to the end of the stick next the ground1 and you see for yourself the difference4 ,or suppose in fencing you put a weight equal to the handle1 where the button is1 and the difference in using the weapon is enormous4 ,a horse shod with shoes unnecessarily heavy is at just that disadvantage2 therefore it is of the utmost importance both for his comfort and your safety that he should be shod as lightly as is compatible with the work required of him4 ,in fitting the shoe1 great care should be taken that both sides of the hoof are of the same height4 ,if they are not of the same height1 the whole foot is thrown out of plumb2 this twists the delicate joints of leg and pastern and leads to disease4 ,in the majority of cases that ,i have noticed1 the inside of the foot is left higher than the outside4 ,the horse left without shoes does not suffer from corns1 thrush1 speedy-cut1 sand-cracks1 quittor1 and the like4 ,on the contrary1 he develops and keeps in condition a foot wonderfully well adapted to carry him and hold him4 ,he has a wonderful cushion to run on and take the jar off1 enclosed in a fibrous case of horn4 ,the care of the foot and the shoeing thereof should leave as much to nature and as little to the blacksmith as possible4 ,artificial conditions make iron shoes necessary1 but except for the heaviest kind of work on the roughest and hardest roads the less shoe1 the fewer nails1 and the less paring and rasping of the foot1 the better4 ,the cavalry in this country do not shoe the horses on the hind feet unless special service requires it4 ,where a horse interferes or forges1 certain changes in his shoeing may help matters4 ,in interfering1 unless it arises from bad malformation1 the height of the shoe may be increased on the inside1 or a three-quarter shoe used on the outside2 or1 if this fails1 the exact opposite may be tried4 ,the so-called ,charlier shoe1 which fits into a bevelled hollow around the crust1 suits some horses4 ,clicking or forging arises from the striking of the toe of the hind shoe against the under edge of the toe of the fore shoe4 ,it results usually from the quicker action of the hind quarters than the fore quarters4 ,a remedy is to shorten the toes of the hind feet and level off the edges of the toe of the fore shoe4 ,shortening the toes of the fore feet enables the horse to raise his fore feet more quickly and thus to get them away before the hind quarters reach his fore feet4 ,in hilly country1 or where horses are overworked or weakened by illness1 this overreaching is most common1 and often disappears when horses get accustomed to the country1 or get stronger and better able to lift1 and to carry their feet properly4 ,,chapter ,,ix ,,harness ,the harness has two fundamental functions3 first1 to attach the horse to the vehicle1 so that he may pull it2 second1 to enable the coachman to guide the horse4 ,the elements of all harness1 therefore1 are3 the collar1 hames1 and traces1 and the bridle1 bit1 and reins4 ,the pulling part--the collar1 hames and traces--should1 of course1 be first of all strong and then as light as will fulfil their purpose2 the guiding part--the bridle1 bit1 and reins--should first of all be light1 but strong enough to hold the horse4 ,whether you buy harness1 or use harness1 or wish to be guided in examining and keeping in repair your own harnesses1 these are the underlying principles of the whole subject4 ,all questions of form or fads or personal peculiarity must first conform to these principles1 otherwise the harnessing will be wrong4 ,from judging the appointment classes at a horse show to the buying of a harness for your children's pony1 these first principles of what a harness should be apply rigidly4 ,unless there is a rational basis to go upon in all these matters1 form and style and so on are mere silliness4 ,as an example of this1 there is the absurd dictum in this country that a lady should sit on the right side of her own carriage1 due1 of course1 to the fact that in ,england vehicles pass to the left1 which of course makes the right side the prominent side4 ,in this country vehicles pass to the right1 which of course makes the left side the prominent1 and1 for purposes of seeing and being seen1 the more convenient side4 ,this is a very happy illustration of vehicular toadyism1 or of so-called form1 which is simian1 rather than sensible4 ,wherever1 therefore1 in the matter of manners and appointments on the road1 from the harnessing1 furnishing1 and handling of a pony cart to a drag1 you are met with a statement or given advice that has no rational sanction1 be sure you are wrong and investigate further4 ,a similar question to the above is the much-mooted one as to whether the reins1 particularly in four-in-hand driving1 should be buckled or left unbuckled4 ,when the mail-coaches were making the best time possible from stage to stage or when the amateur whip was making the best time possible in imitation thereof1 it was claimed that a certain amount of time was saved at the end of each stage by doing away with the unbuckling of the reins4 ,true1 time was saved1 and with professional coachmen there was the minimum of danger from dropping a rein4 ,but nowadays1 in driving a coach1 either on the road or in the park1 the safety1 comfort1 and pleasure of the passengers are first of all important1 and the seconds saved in unbuckling reins are of no consequence4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xx4 #a4 ,bridoon4 #b4 ,double-ring snaffle4 #c4 ,half-cheek jointed snaffle4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxi4--,,bit ,,found ,,on ,,the ,,acropolis4 ,,date #ejj ,b4,c4 ,the best road coachman ,i know in this country1 and a man who probably never dropped a rein in his life1 drives with his reins buckled4 ,as to the question of the leaders running away1 when of course buckled reins would catch in the terrets of the wheel horses' pads1--that is as though a man should sleep every night in a rope harness for getting out of windows in case of fire4 ,these two questions are typical of certain vapid discussions of questions relating to harness and harnessing1 and they are also typical of how the student of such matters should settle them4 ,usage is the law of language1 so1 too1 usage should not be dethroned in any department of life without good reason2 but when usage becomes an empty form1 and when a change makes for safety1 comfort1 and convenience1 there should be no hesitation about making it4 ,the earliest form of vehicle and harness1 and upon which all improvements have been built up1 are the ,indian pony with two long poles attached to his belly-band and a rawhide rope around his neck4 ,there you have all the elements of a harness1 but with no comfort and no convenience1 and only the most precarious safety4 ,in the famous picture1 ,attila at ,rome1 by ,raphael1 the ,huns are riding without bit or bridle1 merely a rope or strap around the neck of their mounts4 ,in certain pictures of ,roman chariots there is but one rein attached to a snaffle-bit1 and the horse was evidently guided by the pressure of the rein and the whip2 though it is to be remembered that the complicated turnings of modern traffic and modern roads were unknown1 and to keep straight1 and to start and stop1 were the main thing4 ,to begin at the beginning in a discussion of modern harness 7,plate ,,xxii471 it is proper to emphasize the fact that the very best leather is none too good1 whether in your traces or in your reins4 ,the best leather is made of the hides of heifers or steers and tanned with oak bark4 ,the total supply of oak bark in ,england is only about three hundred thousand tons a year1 which amount is quite insufficient2 and most of the ,english leather is tanned by cheaper and quicker methods4 ,the old oak-tanning process took eighteen months1 and made leather of unequalled quality4 ,to-day the process hardly consumes as many weeks1 and in ,america1 hemlock bark is the most important material used4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxii4--,,single ,,harness ,it is not easy1 except by long experience1 to tell good leather at a glance4 ,one authority says that good leather should be solid1 but not hard2 mellow1 but not soft4 ,the black leather in a harness should have a smooth surface1 close texture1 and when bent between the hands should not show minute cracks4 ,the collar is the keystone of the pulling part of the harness4 ,it should fit to a nicety1 every horse having his own collar as much as the coachman should have his own boots4 ,the collar should be lined with some non-porous material1 preferably soft leather--even thin patent leather is good and easily cleaned4 ,if the collar is too wide1 it will rub the shoulders2 if too short1 it will choke the horse2 if rounded at the top1 it will press on and gall the withers4 ,usually the collar that will go over a horse's head will fit as to width1 and is long enough when four fingers1 held vertically1 will go between the collar and neck1 when the head is held in its usual position4 ,the sides of the upper part of the collar1 as well as the sides over the shoulders1 should be well filled out1 to prevent the rubbing of the point of the collar on the withers4 ,in cases where the horse has an unusual conformation of head and neck a collar opening at the top is a convenience--one or two such collars should be kept in every stable4 ,collars may be either straight or curved back1 the latter variety showing off the horse's neck to advantage4 ,the hames must1 of course1 fit the collar2 and the draught-eye in the hames1 to which the tug is attached1 should be placed so that the pull comes upon the muscles of the lower part of the shoulder-blade1 or at a point where this large bone is narrowest4 ,usually hame-rings are placed too low by a full inch on the hames when fitted to the collar4 ,this is important1 as it puts the draught where the horse can most easily apply most power and leaves his shoulders as free as though the collar were not there4 ,the incline of the trace from the collar1 so far as applied mechanics are concerned1 matters little so long as it is not too high nor too low2 but as a wheel meets with friction and obstructions up and over which it must be pulled1 it is an advantage to have the trace decline from the collar to the vehicle4 ,it is well to put the collar on some minutes before the horse is to be used in it1 so that his neck and shoulders may be warmed for their work2 and it is absolutely essential to sound skin on neck and shoulders that the collar should be left on the horse five or ten minutes after his return1 hot from work4 ,pads or saddles should fit as well as collars and should be placed just back of the shoulders1 where the muscles are no longer prominent4 ,if horses were saddled twenty minutes before they were wanted1 and only unsaddled--girths of course being loosened--twenty minutes after their return to the stable1 these precautions1 and a liberal use of alcohol rubbed into the skin1 would lessen materially the number of sore backs4 ,a ,dutch collar1 or breastplate1 is sometimes used in light harness instead of a neck collar4 ,in the case of a horse with sore shoulders this is a convenience1 or a horse with graceful neck and shoulders in the lead of a tandem shows off better with such a collar4 ,but for draught it is not as good as the neck collar4 ,to the hames on the collar is fastened the tug1 to the tug the trace1 which at its other end is fastened finally to the vehicle4 ,of the length of tugs and traces it is to be said that they should be of such length that the back-band lies on the middle of1 not in front or behind1 the pad1 when the horse is pulling4 ,the reason for this is that otherwise the horse will be pulling the vehicle1 not by the trace1 but by the back-band4 ,many illustrations of this awkwardness may be seen wherever you see horses in harness4 ,of the particular fastenings of tugs to hames1 and of traces to vehicles1--these must depend upon the type of vehicle1 and had best be left to the choice of the technically experienced4 ,but it is every owner's business to see to it that these draught portions of the harness are strong and of the proper length4 ,in the case of traces in a coach harness1 the inside trace should be about half a hole shorter than the outside trace to make the draught even1 and the convenient way to do this is to wrap the inside roller-bolt with leather1 thus taking up more of the trace on that side1 and saving the weakening of the trace by punching an extra hole in the tug end of it4 ,good1 strong1 pliable reins1 particularly of the length1 #bc feet #f inches1 required for the lead-reins of a coach1 are hard to get1 but merit all the time and money spent in getting them4 ,of the size1 viz4 the width1 of the reins1 one writer says3 ,medio tutissimus ibis1 which back-of-the-dictionary ,latin would apply equally well to a man's gloves or collars4 ,if you have short fingers1 the reins should be1 say1 three-quarters or seven-eighths of an inch wide2 if long fingers1 one inch wide or even a little more4 ,a man with short fingers would be hampered1 and his work in fingering four reins would be cramped1 with wide reins4 ,a horse's bridle should fit him nicely and with no loose ends hanging or sticking about his head4 ,nothing looks more slovenly than trace points or back-band points or bridle billet ends sticking out of1 and beyond their loops4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxiii4 ,the horse's eyes should come in the middle of the winkers1 and the headstall should be so fitted as to keep them there4 ,the winkers should not bulge out nor turn in1 and thus almost touch the eye4 ,above all1 they should not1 as is often the case1 drop so that the horse can see over1 and behind them4 ,many horses under these circumstances will pay so much attention to the man and the whip1 and perhaps the parasol1 behind them1 that they will see nothing else4 ,the throat-latch should be loose enough to allow three fingers between it and the throat4 ,it is intended to keep the whole bridle in place1 but not to choke the horse4 ,the nose-band is a survival4 ,it was intended to keep the jaws of the horse together so that he could not relieve himself from the bit by opening his mouth4 ,in the case of a bit with a high port it is still useful for that purpose2 but even when used merely because it came as part of the harness1 it should fit and not be a flopping ring of leather around the horse's nose4 ,a nose-band properly adjusted should have the width of two fingers between it and the horse's jaws and should fit snugly and not too far up over his nose4 ,the brow-band should so fit that it does not rub the ears4 ,when the bridle is hung up as one piece1 see that it is not hung on a hook1 so that one side or the other is pulled out of shape1 but on a proper bridle-rack4 ,of bits1 as of books1 there is no end4 ,xenophon advises a flexible bit covered with leather4 ,no matter what the kind of bit1 it must always be flexible1 he maintains 7,plate ,,xxi474 ,william ,cavendish1 ,duke of ,newcastle1 in probably the most sumptuous book on the horse ever published1 writing in #afeg1 says1 ,but above all1 this rule is chiefly to be observed1 to put as little iron in your horse's mouth as possibly you can4 ,with bits as with shoes1 the less and the lighter1 the better1 so long as they be strong enough to hold your horse4 ,the plain snaffle1 ring snaffle1 double ring snaffle1 ,liverpool bit1 ,elbow bit1 ,buxton bit1 ,swales's patent1 and 7,plates ,,xxiii4 and ,,xxiv47 innumerable modifications of these1 offer opportunity to shift responsibility from your own hands to the tender bars of the horse's mouth4 ,outside of here and there a horse who1 on account of bad early training or from ill-usage or from fracture1 it is impossible to bit so that he will go comfortably1 the matter of bits and bitting is a matter of patience and experiment4 ,bits are often bought as though any size of bit would do for any size of horse4 ,but a bit too large is as injurious as a bit too small4 ,the mouthpiece should be exactly the width of the mouth1 and if you have not a bit that fits exactly1 it is a simple matter to insert around the mouthpiece and inside the branch of the bit1 a disk of leather of the thickness required to make your bit fit snugly 7,plates ,,xxv4 and ,,xxvi474 ,this fitting of the bit alone makes a great difference to the comfort of the horse1 as may be seen by looking closely at the way in which a bit with the mouthpiece too long works in the horse's mouth1 when attached to two long reins and pulled this way and that4 ,the bit should be placed neither too high nor too low in the mouth1 but about an inch above the tusk4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxiv4--,,swales ,,patent ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxv4--,,brush ,,burr ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxvi4--,,plain ,,burr ,the curb-chain should allow of two fingers between it and the horse's jaw4 ,this curb-chain is a part of the lever which works by the bit1 through the reins1 on the mouth1 and should be handled with discrimination and soberly4 ,the curb-chain may be made more severe1 either by tightening it1 or by turning the chain itself so that it will be with rough edges against the horse's jaw4 ,it is doubtful whether this is more than a temporary solution of pulling4 ,its final effect is to deaden the horse's mouth4 ,when you are tempted to tighten your curb-chain1 tighten your nose-band and loosen your curb-chain instead2 or lift the bit by a hole in the horse's mouth or lower it2 or buckle your reins in the cheek instead of the bar1 middle bar1 or lower bar2 or if there seems to be trouble on one side of the horse's mouth and not on the other1--if on the near side1 put the off rein into the middle bar1 leaving the near rein in the cheek1 or vice versa2 or look to see if your horse has his tongue over the bit2 or if he is inclined to loll with his tongue1 tie his tongue down with soft string2 or loosen or tighten the bearing-rein2--in short1 use every means in your power to make the horse comfortable before you resort to harsh measures--which last1 by the way1 are almost never permanently successful4 ,above all things1 don't lose your temper1 and make matters absolutely impossible of remedy by doing just what the horse is doing--pulling6 ,the horse may be merely nervous1 or ignorant of what the bit means1 or really suffering2 and you have more intelligence than he has--the comparative weights of your brains and spinal cords prove it--and that being true1 you should illustrate this physiological law by managing him1 rather than to permit him to manage you4 ,but1 you reply1 what if you have tried everything1 and he still continues to pull your arms out and endanger the lives of yourself and others8 ,then get out of a bad fix as best you can4 ,telegraph him that you decline the nomination as candidate unless he reforms1 and get him back to ,nebraska as speedily and with as little danger as possible4 ,anything that can be done to freshen or to keep fresh the animal's mouth1 and to give him something rather to play with1 than to pull against1 is important4 ,hence the reason for changing the position of the bit1 for movable mouthpieces1 or for any other device to keep the horse from taking the bit too seriously4 ,there are innumerable experiments to be tried before a horse is to be set down as a puller4 ,often when a horse finds he is not to be hurt1 he goes well enough4 ,take out the heavy bit1 and drive him in a snaffle4 ,cover his bit with rubber1 or sew salt pork on his bit2 or give him a bit that works up and down1 or change from the straight bit to one with a slight port1 so that it does not rest on his tongue1 or go to your harness maker and have a ,liverpool made with a jointed mouthpiece1--why not8 ,what you want is something not unsightly to drive your horse in1 and1 as we have said before1 though form and correctness are absolutely essential to persons and things without content1 they are to be set aside always when there is a rational sanction for doing so4 ,dress parade at quarters if you please and without a speck or a spot or a stir of a muscle2 but undershirts and bare feet for coaling ship and going into action4 ,the man who is overawed by twaddle about form in the treatment of a live animal1 whether man or beast1 must have cur blood in him from some source1 and is not a proper person to be put in authority over either4 ,there are many things about the harness which annoy the horse and make him restive and uncomfortable to drive4 ,his brow-band may be chafing his ears2 his winkers may be flapping or pushing against his eyes2 his pad or saddle may not fit1 and be rubbing his backbone2 the crupper may be too short1 catching him hard under the tail or pulling the saddle backward2 the traces may be too long or too short1 hampering him in his work2 his shoes may have been on too long and become too small for his ever growing hoof2 the bearing-rein may be too tight2 the bit too wide1 or hard on his tongue1 or pressing against inflamed tissue caused by ragged teeth which ought to have been filed down4 ,all these matters1 it ought to be the pride1 as it is the duty1 of a coachman to look out for4 ,it is for this reason1 if for no other1 that the owner of a horse or horses should know the elements at least of the history1 housing1 harnessing1 and handling of the horse4 ,ignorance not only means discomfort and danger1 but it means cruelty as well4 ,a martingale is intended to prevent the horse from throwing up his head4 ,it is looped through a buckle and attached to the belly-band at one end2 the other end is a split strap with rings through which the reins pass1 or it may be fastened to the bit itself1 or to the nose-band if the horse is refractory or fussy about his mouth4 ,the question of bearing-reins is not a question of bearing-reins or no bearing-reins1 but a question of the use and misuse of bearing-reins4 ,no horse or pony of spirit should be driven by a woman or a child without a bearing-rein4 ,it prevents the animal rubbing his head against shaft or pole1 and catching and perhaps pulling his bridle off2 it prevents him from getting his head down between his legs and becoming unholdable2 and it makes kicking more difficult4 ,a halter is enough for ,dobbin when ,dobbin goes his sleepy way1 but there is no knowing what day in ten years ,dobbin gets well1 and devil a saint is he6 ,the bearing-rein1 properly adjusted1 does not inconvenience the horse in the slightest and is a valuable safeguard in time of need4 ,for a boring or heavy-headed or gross-necked horse1 the bearing-rein takes weight off the coachman's hands and helps rather than impedes the horse4 ,on the other hand1 the bearing-rein1 like a certain feminine piece of harness1 may be used for purposes of fashionable distortion4 ,the horse's head is twisted up high in the air to make him lift his legs and to give him a lofty and proud appearance4 ,this use of the bearing-rein is indeed an abomination4 ,the gag bearing-rein is a rein passing from a point of the headstall on each side1 through a swivel attached to the snaffle1 thence through another ring1 and fastened on to the hook of the pad or saddle4 ,the sides of the horse's mouth are drawn up1 and with a tight crupper to boot1 the horse looks as though he were tied together at the teeth and the tail4 ,one sees little of this nowadays4 ,only the very newest dollars1 daubed with unusual ignorance1 permit this turkey-cock style of harnessing4 ,the crupper1 passing from the pad or saddle and ending in a padded loop under the tail1 holds the saddle from slipping forward when the harness is without breeching1 and also1 as a horse always tucks his tail into his quarters when about to kick1 prevents kicking to some extent4 ,the crupper should be stuffed with linseed to keep it moist1 and to prevent its hardening and becoming a worry to the horse4 ,in these days1 when even light carriages have brakes1 breeching is seldom used except with state or very dressy harness4 ,in a hilly country or with two-wheeled traps1 particularly those driven by women or children1 it should be a part of the harness4 ,in such cases1 safety rather than appearance or lightness is the essential thing4 ,the breeching should hang about twelve inches below the upper part of the dock1 and have four to six inches' play when the horse is in his collar4 ,the kicking-strap in a single harness is fastened on one shaft and passes up and over the horse's quarters through a loop in the crupper and down on the other side to the other shaft4 ,in double harness two straps are needed4 ,they are fastened to the pad and run alongside the crupper to the splinter-bar and are connected by a strap across the quarters4 ,no advice is necessary here4 ,when a kicking-strap is needed1 the necessity is obvious4 ,pains should be taken1 however1 to have the kicking-strap well back on the quarters1 otherwise it is valueless1 and also to have it loose enough not to be the cause itself of kicking4 ,though the whip is not part of the harness1 it is an important adjunct4 ,the best stocks are made of holly or of our own white hickory4 ,the stock should be five feet long1 and the thong1 for four horses1 ten feet six inches--for one or two1 four feet long4 ,the balance of the whip to one who drives much is as important as the suitable balance of a fishing-rod1 golf-club1 or rapier4 ,if badly balanced1 it adds a surprising burden of weight on the hand1 to one who has not experienced it4 ,a good maker's whip will balance at its best1 at the collar2 that is to say1 when grasped at the collar it is carried with the weight most evenly distributed for its holder4 ,the thong should be kept pliable with mutton tallow or soap1--crown soap is the best1--and never pipe-clayed1 which rots the thong4 ,it should never be left standing1 but1 in order to keep its shape1 it should hang1 when not in use1 on a spool4 ,even heavy poles will warp1 if not properly cared for1 by keeping them lengthwise on proper rests2 much more true is this of the far lighter and more delicate whiphandles4 ,the large or butt end of a good stock will be nine-tenths of an inch round1 the small end six-tenths4 ,for a heavy whip the handle should be covered with pigskin1 and sewn down its length1 or1 even better1 wound in a spiral1 each fold overlapping1 which makes the handle less slippery in wet weather2 the chief value of pigskin here and elsewhere in saddlery and harness-making is that it is not made rough by friction4 ,imitation pigskin is made in quantity4 ,in genuine pigskin1 the bristles reach clear through the skin1 so that there are holes on the flesh side4 ,in the imitations the holes only reach part way through4 ,the thong on every whip should be of the same material throughout1 and not terminate in whipcord1 or silk1 or ribbons1 or any other fussy material4 ,the whip is for use--important use--to a good coachman1 and should be made accordingly4 ,of the care of harness1 it would be difficult to say too much4 ,the whole pleasure and safety of driving depend practically upon the watch that is kept to see that it is safe and strong4 ,when there is question about wear1 it is better to replace the worn part at once4 ,better throw an old harness aside1 than run the risk of its being used by leaving it in the stable4 ,it may be put on in muddy weather1 or through carelessness1 and disaster follows4 ,as long as leather remains dry and clean1 it needs little attention4 ,once it is wet1 it should be carefully cleaned and well rubbed with oil4 ,neat's-foot oil is the best4 ,vegetable oils1 with the single exception of castor-oil1 which is disagreeable by reason of its odor1 are apt to become hard4 ,all brass or plate on harness tarnishes easily1 and should be kept from the ammonia of the stable and from the fumes of gas1 if it is burned2 as well as from gas from the stove4 ,a good mixture for black harness is one pint spirits of turpentine1 four ounces of beeswax1 one ounce prussian blue1 half an ounce lampblack2 after the application1 plenty of hand polishing4 ,it would seem almost unnecessary to warn against soaking any part of leather harness in water1 if the writer had not seen on more than one occasion parts of harness literally left to soak in the water-bucket6 ,in the case of the parts of the harness made of patent leather1 no wax preparation should be used2 vaseline and a soft rag will do the cleaning sufficiently well4 ,what has been said of the care of harness is equally1 and for the same reason1 of safety1 true of the carriages in your stable4 ,all carriages profit by an airing occasionally4 ,if they are not often used1 they should be run out and left for an hour or two in a dry1 warm place4 ,carriages newly painted and varnished should be washed several times before they are used4 ,this sets and hardens paint and varnish4 ,carriages should not be merely dusted or wiped over1 but washed when they come in1 and thoroughly dried--a soft sponge on fine carriages1 a hose on rougher vehicles1 and a soft chamois to dry both1 and patience--never hot water and never picking off of dried mud1 lest paint and varnish come with it4 ,carriages with plain axles should have the axles seen to after every outing4 ,men who do much driving of heavy vehicles with ,collinge or ,mail axles1 unless they have competent servants or are competent themselves1 find it safer and better to have the carriage builder look after their axles at regular intervals4 ,collinge axles will go from one to two months2 ,mail axles a week without oiling1 on a private coach4 ,on public coaches it is the custom to examine the axles each day4 ,washing and caring for carriages is not a difficult matter1 except that the human qualities of patience and painstaking are more difficult to find even than mechanical ability4 ,time should be taken on the wash-stand1 if nowhere else4 ,of the care of the cushions and stuffed parts of carriages1 and the metal parts1 common sense1 and the well-known commercial pastes sold by all harness and carriage makers1 will fit a man out to do his duty4 ,with styles of carriages and appropriate vehicles for exhibiting and the like1 this book does not deal4 ,the most scientific treatise on the subject of the coach and carriage is ,a ,manual of ,coaching1 by ,fairman ,rogers4 ,the author was of high attainments as an engineer1 and of great practical experience as a coachman4 ,a valuable book of reference1 with complete and very good illustrations covering the ground of appropriateness and good form1 is ,driving for ,pleasure1 by ,francis ,t4 ,underhill4 ,a very useful compilation1 very complete and clear as to all details of the stable is1 ,the ,private ,stable1 by ,james ,a4 ,garland4 ,all parts of steel1 bits1 curb-chains1 pole-chains1 kidney-links1 and the like1 after washing1 may be put into lime-water--dissolving as much common lime as the water will take2 this does steel no harm and keeps off rust4 ,to polish these parts1 they should be shaken in a bag with fine sawdust and sand4 ,sand and emery paper scratch1 and do not burnish satisfactorily2 a steel burnisher is the only way in which the original polish can be regained or retained4 ,that harness should be appropriate to the horse1 the vehicle1 and the use to which it is to be put1 goes without saying4 ,the pony-cart1 the runabout1 the drag1 the miniature ,victoria1 the station wagon1 need harness to suit them4 ,but this by no means entails different harness for every vehicle4 ,on the contrary1 a few changes1 and a pair of leaders' reins1 both for four and tandem1 will fit you out for almost any kind of driving4 ,collars1 bits1 saddles1 should fit their wearers2 and of these1 if there are many horsemen and horsewomen in the family1 you must have an adequate supply4 ,but the light pony-pair harness with long reins1 and the heavier harness if a larger pair fitted with removable terrets1 gives you a four-in-hand harness4 ,a similar arrangement with two single harnesses will give you a tandem harness2 and it is well to remember that the greater variety of driving you have1 the more confidence you will gain and the better you will drive4 ,it is hard on the men in the stable to have too little harness1 and it is a burden to have a lot of harness that is never used4 ,leather up to a certain age improves with use and deteriorates when left to hang and become dry1 so that it is almost as necessary not to have too much harness as to have enough4 ,let it be repeated that any question of worn parts of a harness should be investigated and attended to at once4 ,this is not merely economy2 it is gross extravagance not to do so1 and a peril besides4 ,when men wore close armor and a beaver down1 they could only be distinguished by emblems on their shields or harness4 ,when reading was an almost unknown accomplishment1 it was necessary that men should have over their tents in the field1 or over their gates or doors at home1 signs and symbols that could be easily seen and distinguished4 ,hence arms and heraldry4 ,the more conspicuous the man or the family1 the more necessary that he and they should be easily recognizable4 ,hence the inns of the local village1 the servants1 the carriages1 and the like were distinguished by a particular badge4 ,the reason for this has passed4 ,the overpowering instinct in man to prolong his existence1 by having been1 by being1 and by affirming that he will be1 as shown in genealogy1 in ambition to be well known1 and in the belief in immortality1 is the explanation of heraldry4 ,that the army1 navy1 or diplomatic officer should put a cockade in his servants' hats1 is therefore not difficult to understand4 ,that almost every man should wish to make the best of his ancestry1--to cut out the tailors1 and hatters1 and tinsmiths1 and tanners1 and make prominent the worthies1--is also not difficult to understand4 ,to the ,american1 however1 the conspicuous use of insignia of this kind1 unless the authenticity thereof be verifiable by proofs unquestionable1 is rather childish4 ,there is no doubt whatever but that we all have a strain of the right to bear arms blood2 there is also no doubt that we have all more or less lived through days of small and tradesman-like things in this country1 and perhaps your own initials on your harness are the safest badge4 ,if you are a gentleman1 it will probably show itself most conspicuously by the fact that you never remind others of it and never forget it yourself4 ,if either technically or morally you are not a gentleman1 no sign and motto will make you one4 ,indeed1 some badges on harness only serve to make conspicuous the fact that the horses are better bred than the owners4 ,this is a comparison that should be avoided4 ,it is not fair to the horses4 ,lastly1 in writing of harness1 it is proper to remind the horse owner that his harness like his horse improves by use and proper care after use4 ,therefore avoid having too much harness4 ,unless you are a constant exhibitor in the show ring1 you can adapt your harnesses1 if they are all made in the same general pattern as to pads1 blinkers1 terrets1 brow-bands1 and the like1 to many uses4 ,a runabout harness of heavy make1 with part of a double harness for your leader and a pair of long reins and a pair of traces and terrets that screw in and can be taken off1 fit you out with a tandem harness4 ,one heavy and one light set of double harness with similar arrangements as to reins and terrets will fit you out with a four-in-hand harness2 and if you stick to about the same type of horse1 with your saddlers in the lead and your harness horses in the wheel1 you may have all the varieties of driving without undue expense and without an over-accumulation of harness4 ,,chapter ,x ,,the ,,american ,,horse ,by far the most interesting type of horse to the ,american is the ,american trotting-horse1 not only for the reason that he is of our own development1 but because in one way or another he does duty for our harness horse1 in practically every capacity except as a draught animal4 ,he is known to horsemen the world over as the most docile and most versatile of horses4 ,he has been developed and trained to go a mile in two minutes1 and he has been trained to step high1 and to prove himself to be in the highest class of harness horse1 and he is not bad under saddle4 ,indeed1 more than one blue-ribbon winner under the saddle from ,virginia and ,kentucky is of this same stock4 ,this docility is shown in the wonderful performance of ,belle ,hamlin1 ,justina1 and ,globe1 driven a mile1 three abreast1 in #b4ad by ,ed4 ,geers4 ,in writing of the ,american trotting-horse one is confronted at the outset with the question of from what standpoint he is to be considered2 whether as race-horse1 road-horse1 heavy harness horse1 or general utility horse1 as in all of these capacities he is without an equal1 and almost without a competitor4 ,the ,american trotting-horse is the result of the development of a type produced from heterogeneous breeds2 and while several districts of the country had their favorite strains of blood1 there was no system of breeding which promised sure results until ,hambletonian stamped his offspring with speed1 and the instinct to trot2 which have been developed by the breeding of horses with speed already developed or with speed inheritance4 ,trotters may now be bred1 with a certainty that the produce will at least excel in speed horses of any other breed1 and with a likelihood of great speed4 ,the breeding of ,hambletonian 7,plate ,,xxvii471 who traces back to ,messenger on side of both sire and dam1 has never been questioned4 ,messenger was imported to ,philadelphia from ,england in #aghh4 ,he was a gray stallion by ,mambrino1 first dam by ,turf1 second dam by ,regulus1 third dam by ,starling1 fourth dam by ,fox1 fifth dam ,gipsey1 by ,bay ,bolton1 sixth dam by ,duke of ,newcastle's ,turk1 seventh dam by ,byerly ,turk1 eighth dam by ,taffolet ,barb1 ninth dam by ,place's ,white ,turk4 ,he was eight years old when he came over4 ,the breeding of the dam of ,hambletonian1 known as the ,charles ,kent mare1 is only questioned by those who1 having failed in breeding on other lines1 have sought relief by attacking ,hambletonian's breeding1 conformation1 disposition1 and individuality1 without considering that his record in the stud disproves any and every contention of the kind4 ,there is no success like success4 ,at any rate1 all agree that the greatest success in breeding trotters has been achieved by a liberal use of ,hambletonian blood2 and a winner with none of his blood is a curiosity4 ,from ,dexter1 with a record of #b4ag in #ahfg down to ,lou ,dillon with a record of #a4eh in #aijc1 every champion trotter except one is known to have carried ,hambletonian's blood1 and the exception probably did4 ,the #b4aj list of to-day contains few without ,hambletonian blood4 ,that ,hambletonian impressed his progeny with the trotting instinct1 and that this remains through generations1 is shown by the history of the ,dexter branch of the family4 ,dexter's full brother ,dictator founded a family which increases in number of winners yearly4 ,this is also true of his other offspring who were properly bred and developed4 ,whether ,hambletonian inherited his ability to impress his progeny with the trotting brain from the ,arab1 the thoroughbred1 the hackney1 or the native horse1 is immaterial2 that he had that ability from some source1 the stud book proves beyond peradventure4 ,whatever combination produced him it was a fortunate day for ,american horse-breeding when he was produced and placed in ,orange ,county1 ,new ,york1 where there were many good mares for him and where soil and water and climate all worked together for the good of his offspring and enabled him to found perhaps the best all-round type of horse in the world4 ,all of ,hambletonian's get had the instinct to trot1 and by breeding to those also having this instinct1 which was of necessity in-breeding1 it has been increased until the trot is their natural gait1 and three-year-olds trot as fast as the champion of thirty years ago4 ,while it has taken nearly a century to reduce the trotting record a minute1 and while this reduction has been helped by improved tracks1 sulkies1 methods of training and shoeing1 no one will question that the percentage of horses who can trot fast has increased to such an extent that a horse to trot in #b4bj is easier to find to-day than a three-minute horse thirty years ago4 ,the breed of ,american trotting-horse is of such recent origin1 only five generations from ,hambletonian to ,lou ,dillon1 that it is not to be wondered at that the type is not exact1 and that there are instances of reversion to outcrosses which produce individuals which subject the breed to criticism from those who judge quickly rather than calmly4 ,there is practically no question that intelligent breeding to a type will produce that type4 ,this is proved by the phenomenal success of the ,messrs4 ,hamlin4 ,when ,mr4 ,c4 ,j4 ,hamlin entered the breeding business1 he stated that he proposed to breed not only speed1 but beauty2 and for years ,village ,farm was not only the home of the champions1 but its produce was the most uniform and beautiful known4 ,the great majority of the ,hamlin horses bear the imprint of that grand horse ,mambrino ,king1 who for several years called forth spontaneous cheers1 and applause1 at ,madison ,square ,garden1 captivating the audience by his distinguished gait and bearing4 ,in conformation1 the trotter has two distinctive differences from the runner1 in that the trotter is longer in the body1 than he is high1 and is higher at the coupling1 or rump1 than at the withers4 ,these differences1 no doubt1 are to accommodate the structure to the rotary gait rather than to the series of jumps of the runner4 ,the trotter is steadily improving not only in speed1 but in beauty1 and it is only a matter of shoeing and education to make him step high for heavy harness use4 ,photographs show that all trotters at speed1 step high at some point in their stride1 and shoeing and bitting will so change the stride that it develops a more circular form1 and the grit and instinct to trot enables them to go fast1 high1 and far1 as compared to any other high stepper4 ,in every use1 other than draught-horse work1 the trotter stands alone as a general utility horse4 ,the intelligence and nervous restraint which makes the two-minute trotter a possibility also makes him1 when used as a carriage horse1 safer than any other1 even when surrounded by the many hideous objects and noises he must face in the city streets of to-day4 ,prominent coaching men say that no horse in the world can draw a loaded coach at the same speed1 and stand the work so well1 as the ,american trotting-bred horse4 ,the road-horse is a strictly ,american institution1 and the possession of a trotter is about the first sign of prosperity of a successful ,american who lives outside of our great cities1 where he is not influenced by the desire for show4 ,the typical road-horse should have substance so that he can draw two men twelve miles an hour with pleasure to them and comfort to himself4 ,he should have speed enough to acquit himself creditably in friendly brushes4 ,together with these qualities he should have looks and manners4 ,no breed of horse except the ,american trotter combines the conformation1 speed1 and brain1 to fulfil these requirements4 ,the attached diagram and table1 taken from the ,new ,york ,herald after ,lou ,dillon had trotted in two minutes1 shows clearly the progress of the trotter in the last hundred years4 ,,took ,,nearly ,a ,,century ,,to ,,gain ,a ,,minute ,,in #ahjf ,,yankee ,,lopped ,a ,,second ,,from ,,the ,,three-,,minute ,,mark ,,and ,,ninety-,,seven ,,years ,,later ,,even ,,figures ,,are ,,attained ,the following table shows the records of the trotting champions since #ahjf and the distance which ,lou ,dillon would have beaten each of them in a mile race4 ,,distance ,,record ,,year ,,covered ,,no4 ,,feet ,,no4 ,,feet ,,horse ,,for ,,made ,,in ,,feet ,,trotted ,,behind ,,one ,,mile ,,each ,,in #b4jj ,,lou ,,second ,,dillon ,yankee #b4ei #ahjf #bi4di #c1eci #a1gda ,boston ,horse #b4dh #ahaj #ca4cc #c1gfj #a1ebj ,trouble #b4dc #ahbf #cb4bh #c1hgd #a1daf ,sally ,miller #b4cg #ahcd #cc4fc #d1jcf #a1bdd ,edwin ,forrest #b4cf #ahch #cc4gd #d1jdi #a1bca ,confidence #b4cf #ahch #cc4he #d1jfb #a1bah ,dutchman #b4cb #ahci #cd4gc #d1afh #a1aab ,lady ,suffolk #b4bi #ahde #ce4cb #d1bch #a1jdb ,pelham #b4bh #ahdi #ce4fg #d1bhj #a1jjj ,highland ,maid #b4bg #ahec #ce4ib #d1caj #igj ,flora ,temple #b4ai #ahei #cg4gg #d1ecb #gdh ,dexter #b4ag #ahfg #ch4dg #d1fbf #fed ,goldsmith ,maid #b4ad #ahgd #ci4dj #d1gbh #eeb ,rarus #b4ac #ahgh #ci4fb #d1gee #ebe ,st4 ,julien #b4aa #ahhj #dj4bb #d1hbf #dbg ,jay-,eye-,see #b4aj #ahhd #dj4fa #d1hgc #chj ,maud ,s4 #b4jh #ahhe #da4ja #d1iba #cdb ,sunol #b4jh #ahia #da4ag #d1idj #cac ,nancy ,hanks #b4jd #ahib #db4eh #e1aji #aed ,alix #b4jc #ahid #db4fe #e1aah #ade ,the ,abbot #b4jc #aijj #db4hd #e1ada #abb ,cresceus #b4jb #aija #dc4ai #e1aii #ha ,lou ,dillon #b4jj #aijc #dd4jj #e1bhj 44 ,,lou ,,dillon',s ,,descent ,,from ,,hambletonian ,,in ,,the ,,male ,,line ,lou ,dillon is fifth in descent from ,hambletonian in the male line4 ,this pedigree is as follows3-- ,,lou ,,dillon ,,sidney ,,dillon ,,sidney ,,santa ,,claus ,,strathmore ,,hambletonian ,as to the training and education of the trotter1 that is a science which would require a book in and of itself4 ,of the training of the trotting-bred road-horse1 no two men probably pursue exactly the same methods1 and no two horses require exactly the same treatment1 hence no hard and fast rules can be laid down for every man or for every horse4 ,each man can only give the fruit of his own practical experience1 judiciously mixed with the experience of others4 ,the first lesson cannot be given too soon4 ,the day the foal is born it should be handled1 and made to feel1 even at that tender age1 that man is its friend and master4 ,this should be repeated every day for several weeks1 or even longer1 until the foal is perfectly gentle and friendly toward its attendant1 allowing itself to be stroked and patted1 and each leg in turn to be lifted so that the hoof may be examined and attended to1 a small halter put on and taken off1 and by degrees the foal gradually accustomed to lead and stand to halter4 ,with a little patience and judgment1 all this can be accomplished by the time the foal is a month old1 simply through kindness and coaxing4 ,most breeders leave all this undone1 letting the foals run wild until they are weaned1 when they are roughly and partially broken by sheer force and awkwardness combined4 ,sometimes this is not done till they are yearlings1 or even older4 ,the educating methods when they are young give the best results4 ,these first lessons are never forgotten1 and the foal is practically born in an atmosphere of docility and obedience4 ,he gains confidence in his master or attendant1 and never really learns to fight back at the end of a halter strap1 and is much more willing to accept passively what may follow later on4 ,instead of being in a state of terrorized obedience and fearful of being hurt every time he is approached by man with a strap or a piece of harness in his hands1 he comes to look upon his training as agreeable play4 ,before the foal is weaned he should be tied up by the halter rope to a small manger in the stall with his dam1 long enough to finish a small feed of crushed oats1 and this should be continued as part of his daily routine4 ,he will fret much less after being weaned when this is done4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxvii4--,,hambletonian ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxviii4--,,george ,,wilkes ,his first lessons to harness should be given soon after being weaned1 during the winter that he becomes a yearling4 ,a surcingle may be first thrown over his back and loosely buckled at first1 then gradually tightened up4 ,being already used to the halter1 he will not object to a snug-fitting bridle4 ,a leather bit is preferable to any other for a young colt4 ,by degrees the rest of the harness may be put on with little or no trouble4 ,if the colt is suspicious1 let him see1 smell1 and nose the harness before putting it on4 ,the colt should be led around with long reins1 taught to turn to either side1 to stop at the word whoa1 and also to back4 ,then he may be hitched up to a small cart1 especially built1 with long shafts1 low to the ground and running out behind the wheels1 so as to prevent rearing should this be attempted4 ,it is well1 also1 always to use a strong kicking-strap1 on the theory that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure4 ,with such a cart and harness and lessons two or three times a week when the weather is pleasant1 wonderful progress will often be made before it is time to turn the yearling out to grass4 ,next winter he is coming two years old1 and when taken up1 the harness lessons should be resumed1 this time to regulation road-cart4 ,at this stage a plain snaffle-bit should be used4 ,an average of twice a week in harness will be found sufficient1 although a short drive every pleasant day may be indulged in4 ,the colt should have the run of a paddock for exercise4 ,the bitting rig may now be used to give the colt a good mouth1 a most essential thing1 for there is no comfort in driving a horse with a mean mouth4 ,it is assumed that all the driving is done with a light hand1 otherwise1 instead of a road-horse1 a rank puller is being developed4 ,a young horse in harness can hardly be accustomed at too early a stage to different sights and sounds1 provided they are introduced to him with judgment and in a way not calculated to frighten him4 ,he should become acquainted with dogs1 cows1 and such things as he is liable to meet on the road4 ,an umbrella open or shut should have no terrors for him4 ,in showing him an umbrella and gradually opening it1--and putting it over his head and all about him1--it is well to bear in mind that a colt should be educated on both sides4 ,whatever is done on the near side should be repeated on the off side4 ,carts should be rattled and pushed up against his haunches1 and a hundred and one things of the sort done1--all of which will suggest themselves to a careful trainer4 ,a horse has little or no reasoning power4 ,he has a tenacious memory4 ,what he has seen and knows does not harm him1 he is not afraid of4 ,what he has not seen he dreads1 and being naturally the most timid of all animals1 he instinctively and instantly thinks of flight1 as his sole chance of escape4 ,confidence in his driver will counteract to a certain extent his dread and his thoughts of flight4 ,a horse that is whipped past an object he is afraid of is being forced to choose the lesser of two evils1 and in proportion to the extent of his fear must be the severity of the whipping to induce him to pass the dreaded object4 ,some horsemen pride themselves on their ability to make a horse pass anything or go anywhere4 ,this method ruins a horse for pleasure driving1 for when he sees something which frightens him1 he knows he is between two fires4 ,ultimately1 he may be cowed into submission and pass things without starting1 but his spirit is broken1 and he is no longer a gentleman's road-horse4 ,the better plan is to gradually accustom a horse to steam cars1 trolley cars1 automobiles1 steam rollers1 etc41 taking him a little nearer each time1 and encouraging him with voice and rein to pass4 ,not every man will succeed in doing this4 ,your true horseman1 like your poet1 is born and not made4 ,before bringing his charge to this point1 he will have absolute control of his young horse1 and the horse has every confidence in his driver4 ,the driver is confident and fearless1 and1 knowing thoroughly the nature and limited capacity of his pupil1 so manages things that the confidence and fearlessness are mutual1 and so in time the horse responds cheerfully and fearlessly to the slightest wish of his driver4 ,in the hands of a timid1 nervous man1 the same horse is likely to develop into a dangerous shyer1 if not a puller or a runaway4 ,every harness-horse should be taught to back and to stand4 ,he should understand this before being harnessed to a cart1 and time and care cannot be better employed than in making him proficient in both backing and stopping at the word of command1 with every vehicle to which he may be harnessed4 ,a horse may do both every time he is asked in a two-wheeled cart1 and yet refuse to do either and have to be taught all over again when put to a four-wheeled vehicle4 ,another valuable accomplishment is to walk fast4 ,a lazy driver will sometimes make a slow walker of a naturally fast one1 but this should not be tolerated4 ,some colts are naturally inclined to poke along at a snail's pace when walking1 and are most satisfactory in every other respect4 ,they will acquire the habit of brisk walking if they are harnessed double with a fast-walking horse4 ,it is time well spent in teaching a horse to acquire the habit4 ,in driving young horses to pole1 they should be driven different days on alternate sides1--first on the near side1 then on the off side1 or vice versa4 ,open bridles should be used to begin with1 and afterwards the blind bridle may be substituted4 ,a driving-horse should be equally at home with either kind4 ,while a plain snaffle is preferable for most horses1 it will not always answer4 ,in that case1 the only way is to experiment with different bits until a suitable one is found4 ,a severe bit should never be used except as a last resort4 ,the abuse of overdraw checks cannot be too severely reprobated4 ,many a good horse has his mouth and temper ruined1 and his neck muscles made rigid instead of remaining1 as they should1 flexible and pliable1 by the inordinate craze for the ,kimball ,jackson check4 ,some horses may1 and probably do1 require it2 but1 in my opinion1 they are few and far between4 ,many road drivers seem to think such a check must be used on a fast trotter4 ,it is well to recall that ,jay-,eye-,see1 the first horse to trot a mile in #b4aj1 was driven with a side-check2 and ,lou ,dillon1 who has trotted a mile in #a4eh1 and is the two-minute marvel of the day1 goes without any check whatever4 ,these two noted examples should silence all arguments about the necessity for an overdraw check in order to increase the speed4 ,the pleasure of a driving-horse depends as much as anything else upon his stopping and standing wherever and whenever you wish him to do so4 ,young horses are often impatient of this restraint1 coming at irregular intervals and places1 and it is one of the hardest things to train a horse to do4 ,a good plan is to have them follow behind a wagon1 particularly if loaded with hay1 and have the wagon start and stop1 and the colt you are driving behind it do likewise4 ,this stopping and starting seems to him more natural1 coming as it does from the forcible argument of a load of hay in front of him1 rather than a pulling on his mouth from behind4 ,just as the ,american trotting-bred horse makes the most agreeable harness-horse in the world1 so he is well worth all the time and patience required to make him what he can become4 ,a few months' kindliness1 firmness1 and patience when his schooling begins mean years of pleasure and safety to his owner later on4 ,above all1 get all idea out of your head of breaking a horse4 ,he is the last animal in the world to be made companionable or useful by being beaten and roughly handled and1 as the phrase is1 broken4 ,in his bitting1 harnessing1 and handling he should be made to do things by patience rather than by force4 ,the notion that a horse should never be allowed to refuse to do what is required of him1 but that he should there and then be beaten into obedience is not only a false notion1 but results badly4 ,instead of thrashing him past what he shies at1 it is far better in the end to keep at the problem day after day until he learns through habit rather than by the whalebone4 ,it takes more time1 but in the end the results are far more satisfactory4 ,it is in these early days of the training of the road-horse or harness-horse that the wise owner puts all he knows of bitting1 harnessing1 shoeing1 and feeding into practice4 ,it is at these times1 too1 that he learns by scores of experiments which of the many counsels he has read or listened to is the wisest4 ,it may be said1 indeed1 that an owner is and remains partially ignorant and incompetent1 until he has watched and bitted and driven1 day after day1 an equine problem of his own4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,a ,,chapter ,,of ,,little ,,things ,the success of every drive1 whether with one horse1 two horses1 four horses1 or six horses1 depends upon three things3 the comfort of your horse1 yourself1 and your passengers4 ,of the comfort of the horse much has been said already1 and all that has been said may well be emphasized and even repeated4 ,he should be ready to go out1 that is1 not too soon after nor too long after feeding4 ,his bit and harness should be comfortable and adequate to the work he is to do4 ,his shoes and feet should be in good condition4 ,if a horse is properly looked after by his caretaker in the stable1 casting a shoe should be a rare occurrence4 ,the horse being comfortable at the start1 everybody's comfort behind him depends upon his being kept comfortable4 ,he should not be asked to go too fast or too slow1 or asked to do too much at one time1 and his mouth should be kept fresh4 ,as for the coachman1 his harness1 too1 should fit him4 ,the writer has seen a rein dropped and a horse in a four go sprawling on the pavement1 all on account of the ill-fitting hat of the coachman1 who was grabbing at his head-gear at an inopportune moment4 ,it is even a matter of consequence1 if you are to be the custodian of other people's safety on a drive1 that your hat should fit you well enough to stay on1 even in a fresh breeze4 ,gloves should be of dogskin1 and at least a size too big4 ,your hand should be able to bend as though there was no glove on it4 ,if the glove is not as big as this1 or even bigger1 your reins will slip toward the middle of your fingers1 where they should not be1 but held snug in toward the roots of the fingers2 and you cannot easily bend your hand round to make a pivot of your wrist1 upon which the whole easy give-and-take between the hand and the horse's mouth depends4 ,in our hot climate it makes for coolness in summer to punch a few holes in the backs of the gloves1 and turn over the wrists on to the backs of the hands4 ,driving gloves with only one seam up and down the fingers are the most comfortable 7see plates74 ,a pair of woollen gloves should always be taken in tandem or four-in-hand driving to use in case of wet weather4 ,nobody can drive in tight-fitting gloves4 ,you may steer and pull1 but drive1 never4 ,every single suggestion as to holding and fingering the reins is negatived if tight gloves are worn4 ,it then becomes a physical impossibility to so manuvre hands1 wrists1 and fingers that the horse's mouth shall have a chance4 ,wet gloves can be got in shape and flexibility again by the use of ,crown soap well rubbed into them while they are wet4 ,when they are dry again1 they will be as good as ever4 ,in the matter of the driver's cushion1 it is well to be above your horse1 even in a runabout4 ,this gives better control1 more power1 and keeps the reins off the horse's back1 so that they may come back directly from the pad-terrets to the hand4 ,the cushion should always1 in whatever vehicle1 be of cloth1 and tufted to avoid slipping4 ,you will have enough to do without using your legs as props to hold you on your seat4 ,so much depends upon the physical proportions of the coachman that it is impossible to give figures as to the proper size and slant of cushion4 ,three inches and a half is a fair slant of cushion4 ,the knees should be bent at a comfortable angle1 and the feet resting on the foot-board in such a way that the ankles are not bent at an uncomfortable angle4 ,in driving two as a pair or tandem1 or four horses1 this matter of a comfortable and secure seat is important1 and will repay considerable attention4 ,if for any reason--as in the case of a dog-cart balanced at different angles--the distance between the seat and the foot-board is altered1 or where a child or short-legged person needs a brace for the feet1 never under any circumstances have a rail4 ,a foot-board covered with corrugated rubber made to fit in1 and which can be taken out when not needed1 is all that is necessary4 ,a rail across the bottom of the foot-board1 often seen in the lighter style of vehicles1 such as buggies1 buckboards1 and the like1 is an invention of the devil and most dangerous4 ,it is entirely unnecessary1 and it is easy to catch your toe or toes underneath it1 and the consequences may be horribly serious4 ,in one case a lady1 catching a low shoe under such a rail and struggling to get it out1 was thrown over the dash-board between her horses and killed4 ,such a rail serves no real purpose and has no possible defence except a very short-sighted economy4 ,if your light vehicle has such a rail as a rest for the feet1 either take it out or put another rail across parallel to it so that it is impossible to catch even the toes underneath it4 ,if a horse gets his tail over a rein1 stop him and lift his tail off the rein2 do not jerk the rein from under the tail4 ,a clever whip1 driving tandem or four1 can often1 by a judicious turning of the horse and a flick with the whip1 make the horse take his tail off the rein himself1 but this is for the cognoscenti2 the beginner had best take the safest and surest way out of trouble and either let the groom or his passenger help him out4 ,if alone1 slow up1 do no tugging and jerking1 loosen the rein1 turn your horse quickly and decidedly the other way1 and flick him on the quarters with the whip4 ,if it were not that every now and then some one is kicked in the head by leaning over the dash-board to get hold of the horse's tail1 it would seem unnecessary to forbid absolutely such a copper-fastened fool proceeding4 ,of docked tails1 bearing-reins1 cruppers1 and the like1 there are1 season after season1 endless discussions4 ,the cause of the discussion is usually due not to a wise1 but to a cruel1 use of these1 and is generally carried on in a legislature where only a small minority know anything of the horse except as a quiet farm animal1 seldom driven out of a walk4 ,as soon as the ,society for the ,prevention of ,cruelty to ,animals adds to its board of directors half a dozen theoretically and practically competent horsemen1 there will be a change for the better in these matters1 both practically and legislatively4 ,there are many competent horsemen who maintain1 and with reason1 that the long tail is dangerous1 particularly where women and children drive2 that a tail over the rein may mean a mishap1 and probably injury2 that it is dirty1 bedraggles and wets the legs1 and with the fast-moving1 well-cared-for carriage horse is unnecessary1 even to his comfort4 ,this does not1 on the other hand1 imply that horses' tails should be docked and set up2 but it does point to a happy medium between the dangerous and dirty long tail and the unnecessarily short dock4 ,the question should not be looked upon as having but one answer4 ,men who have themselves docked horses and seen scores of horses docked1 and who take the most instructed care of their horses1 are naturally provoked by criticism from citizens who hardly know that a horse's tail has joints in it1 let alone anything about the feeding1 housing1 or handling even of their own horses4 ,so very few people know how much there is to know about the horse1 that their ignorance neither oppresses1 nor suppresses them4 ,as for the bearing-rein1 here again the question is one of use4 ,for the misuse of the bearing-rein there is no defence4 ,the bearing-rein prevents shaking about of the head1 rubbing off of the bridle1 catching the bit or bridle1 getting the head down between the legs1 obstinate boring2 and1 driving in town1 it is a valuable piece of auxiliary harness4 ,its misuse1 to hold a horse's head in an unnatural position and to make him lift his feet1 is not only cruel1 but vulgar--vulgar being used to express the type of mind that measures everything by appearances4 ,the crupper keeps the saddle in place1 helps materially to prevent the horse from getting his tail over the rein1 and disinclines him to kick4 ,the breeching is1 or ought to be1 considered indispensable in a hilly country1 even with light vehicles1 and is a proper precaution in all cases where women or children act as coachman4 ,brakes are a ,french invention1 and might be supposed to come under much the same strictures as the breeching4 ,but while a breeching is useful and never out of place1 except perhaps on the leaders where horses are driven in front of each other1 the brake is so often misused1 with consequent damage to the horse1 the harness1 the vehicle1 and the skill of the driver1 that it almost deserves a chapter by itself4 ,in the old days of heavy coach-loads1 the wheelers1 helped by the skilful coachman1 took the coach down hill4 ,but a mistake1 or a break in the harness or the pole1 meant disaster4 ,the brake1 which cramps the wheels and takes some of the strain of holding back off the horses1 was a valuable invention4 ,a limited amount of alcohol given at the right time is an indispensable medicine and a boon to the race4 ,alcohol taken at all times and generally by the wrong persons1 in the wrong places1 is the curse of the ,anglo-,saxon race4 ,england1 with one in forty of its population classed as incompetent1 is the story of the misuse of alcohol4 ,the brake shoved on violently at every declivity racks the vehicles1 burdens the horse by not allowing him to go part of his road without the weight of the vehicle behind him1 puts unnecessary strain on the harness at the wrong time1 and tends to make the coachman careless4 ,the brake shoved on with a jerk at every stop jars everybody in the vehicle1 and has been known1 not once1 but often1 to actually chuck people clean out of the vehicle1 both behind and in front1 besides bringing the horse into his collar with a painful galling of his shoulders4 ,on a level place the brake should never be used to stop the vehicle4 ,after the vehicle has been stopped1 particularly if it be a heavy one1 the brake may be put on and left on until the next start is made--this as a measure of precaution4 ,never put on the brake in any case with the whip in the right hand4 ,transfer your whip to the left hand and avoid the danger of flicking the horse in front of you by dropping it toward him2 or of flicking the passengers behind you by dropping it toward them2 and above all avoid the danger of breaking or losing your whip altogether4 ,when the brake is to be put on1 you need your whole hand to do it4 ,put on and take off the brake quietly4 ,knowing horses will often start off at the sound of the brake4 ,the brake should not be regarded as a regular part of the harness4 ,it is good for a horse to do some holding-back work1 and a bad habit to get him to the point where he shirks this part of the work1 or refuses to do it at all4 ,then in case the brake does not work1 or you are without one1 the refusal may cause trouble4 ,the brake is only for use when there is too much strain on horse and harness--not for use every time we go down the smallest declivity4 ,such use of it spoils rather than helps the horse4 ,it is torture to a passenger to see and feel the brake go on1 before the descent is reached even1 and then kept on yards after there is no need of it4 ,as a matter of fact1 good men and good horses are able to negotiate any ordinary road1 without any brake at all2 it is a precautionary measure and a convenience4 ,but for all driving in hilly country by the average coachman it should not be omitted1 nor should it be misused4 ,where other people share the danger1 it is always best to err on the safe side4 ,do not start down any hill fast4 ,with a heavy load1 and horses well in hand1 you may put on steam toward the bottom and give the cattle a little relief4 ,in going up a hill1 do not become impatient and urge horses into a faster pace before you reach the brow of the hill4 ,it is hard on a horse to pull up a hill1 and then to be forced into a trot just before reaching the top1 where the strain is hardest4 ,once on the level1 give a little breathing-space and then start along4 ,remember always1 whether going down hill1 or approaching a troublesome crowd of vehicles1 or with a corner to turn ahead of you1 that the time to slow up is before you get there4 ,you should slow up with your eyes1 and stop with your hands4 ,that is to say1 you should begin operations as soon as your eyes discover trouble ahead1 and not leave it to the last moment2 and then1 with your hands in the air1 your back at an angle of #de1 your horses on their haunches1 and the carriage on top of them1 just save yourself4 ,it is much easier to avoid trouble than to get out of it4 ,if you are alone1 and with no one dependent upon you for support1 your neck is your own2 but with passengers1 for whose safety you have tacitly pledged yourself1 the moment you take the reins you have no right to take the smallest risk1 and besides you are in honor bound to use your very best efforts for their safety and comfort4 ,above all things do not fancy that you are a coachman1 because you own horses and can drive them4 ,bad driving in ,new ,york is responsible for one death a day the year round4 ,the hands should be carried under average circumstances at about the level of the watch chain when worn in the lower waistcoat pocket2 the arm horizontal from the elbow1 which position puts the hands slightly lower than the elbow4 ,but this direction should not for a moment be taken as a hard and fast rule4 ,you will see first-rate coachmen1 some with the hand higher1 some with the hand lower than this4 ,the reasons for the differences are simple4 ,with a nicely bitted team in a show ring or in the ,park1 where a touch is enough1 the left hand if raised a little can be turned more easily1 the points can be made by the right hand with less movement1 and there is no danger of tiring either hand or arm4 ,on the other hand1 the coachman who has a fifty-mile drive before him1 with many different horses to handle1 will place his hand lower1 with more comfort to himself1 and with less risk of numbing his hand and arm4 ,driving with the hands held up under the chin1 or out in front of one1 as though presenting a visiting-card on a tray1 are merely the monkey mannerisms of the ignorant4 ,this is often the result of having seen others drive without understanding the reasons for their position of the hands4 ,those most accomplished coachmen1 ,howlett1 father and son1 in teaching hold the hands higher than the ordinary for the very sufficient reason that they can handle a team admirably1 this way or any other way1 and because it is much easier to show the pupil what is going on with the reins and fingers in that position4 ,but when young ,howlett so easily distanced his competitors1 and won the five-hundred-dollar prize at the ,madison ,square ,garden1 he did not handle the reins in an exaggerated or conspicuous fashion4 ,holding the hands too high is conspicuously awkward1 besides showing the performer to be ignorant of his business and making it exceedingly difficult to pull up quietly and quickly4 ,it may be set down as an axiom1 that the coachman who looks self-conscious and in a strained position is doing something he does not understand1 because he guesses it is right4 ,a snob may be borne with on dry land2 but on the cushion he is dangerous4 ,the institutional bore who illustrates the evident1 explains the obvious1 and expatiates on the commonplace is merely an irritant at dinner2 but at the helm of a boat or behind horses his slovenly omniscience presages1 or prepares for1 disaster4 ,but more than any other one thing1 inattention is the cause of most accidents4 ,something goes wrong because the coachman1 through inattention1 was unprepared for it1 and then things happen that cannot be avoided4 ,nine runaways out of ten begin with carelessness2 once started there is no help this side of a smash-up4 ,you may see not once1 but ten times1 a day the owner of a vehicle put down his reins1 get out1 and instead of going to the horse's head1 until the groom can get to the reins1 walk off4 ,the writer has seen two expensive smash-ups due to the fact that a high-strung horse1 startled by a noise or an unexpected sight1 broke away while the groom was getting from the horse's head to the seat4 ,a horse finding himself entirely and unexpectedly at liberty1 loses his head more often than not1 and then does any mad thing1 from kicking to running away1 that comes easiest4 ,the harness-horse1 it is to be remembered1 is always under control1 and just to feel no restraining hand is in and of itself enough to upset him4 ,very few horses if restrained in time can get away with a fairly strong man1 but no man living can stop two1 or even one1 much less four horses1 once they get the jump on him and a good galloping start4 ,the important thing is to keep such watch and ward that the horse gets no chance to get even one jump before he is pulled up1 and that means ceaseless vigilance4 ,if you have had accidents1--and if you have ridden or driven much1 you have had accidents1--you will recall that the cause was unexpected1 and things happened just at that particular fraction of a second when you were off your guard4 ,in teaching any one to drive1 particularly children1 this point cannot be too much emphasized4 ,the eyes1 so to speak1 should be in the boat1 or in equine parlance on the horse1 the whole livelong time1--from the moment you take up the reins till some one has the horse's head at the end of the journey4 ,lacking this fundamental axiom of all driving1 everything else goes for nothing4 ,the whip should be used smartly and for a purpose1 or not at all4 ,it is best to hit your horse forward of his pad or saddle1 except where in tandem or four-in-hand driving the leaders should be hit on the hind legs1 under1 not above1 the trace4 ,never1 in any kind of driving1 use your whip with the rein in the same hand as the whip4 ,to hit a horse with the whip1 and to jab him in the mouth at the same time1 renders both signals incomprehensible4 ,the reins should never be flopped about on the horse's back in lieu of the whip4 ,this jabs the mouth1 confuses the horse1 and puts him not only to confusion1 but out of your direct control4 ,the connection between hand and bit should never be cut off while the horse is in motion1 any more than you should unship your rudder while sailing a boat4 ,do not turn corners too fast nor too soon4 ,when the hub of your front wheel is opposite the corner you are to turn1 even if you be too close on that side1 there is little danger of hitting even with the hind wheel4 ,above all things1 look where you are going and watch your horse6 ,in any sport where the pleasure and safety of others are in your keeping1 to show off or to take risks is unpardonable and dangerous folly4 ,form1 of which we hear so much in relation to driving1 is here as everywhere else either rational or ridiculous4 ,form is rational when it is the proper clothing of an idea2 form is ridiculous when it is merely an idea of proper clothing4 ,when you dress comfortably1 and sit securely1 and hold the reins firmly and lightly1 you drive in good form because you are obeying the well-thought-out laws of the sport4 ,when you merely copy the externals without knowing why1 you are ridiculous4 ,this is the whole secret of form4 ,one is matter1 the other is merely manner4 ,one is rational1 the other ridiculous4 ,,chapter ,,xii ,,driving ,,one ,,horse ,once you have a horse and know something of his make-up inside and out1 and have housed him properly1 and bought his harness and learned something of its use1 the next thing is to make the connection1 first between the horse and the vehicle1 and then between yourself and the horse4 ,the carriage should be run out first1 the pole or shafts put in place and dusted1 the proper whip and robes got together4 ,it may be well for the owner to realize that a man alone should have at least three-quarters of an hour to turn out on the box of a brougham or ,victoria1 proportionally less time for a runabout or other light carriage1 on which he is to appear in stable clothes4 ,the horse should be brought out of or turned in his stall and attached to the pillar-reins1 and his feet1 coat1 and head gone over4 ,the collar should then be stretched and put over his head1 being careful not to rub hard against the eye-bones in so doing1 fasten on the hames1 and turn the collar into place4 ,it is easier to fasten hames on to the collar before the collar is turned4 ,then put on the bridle1 seeing to it that the bit is in its proper place1 as well as the winkers1 and that both sides of the bridle are of the same length4 ,the saddle should be placed first well back on the horse1 so that the crupper may be put under the tail without undue pulling and hauling4 ,then place the saddle where it belongs on the horse's back1 and tighten up the girth4 ,run the reins through their terrets and fasten them to the bit1 and lead your horse out and back him into the shafts4 ,never take hold of the bit in leading him out but by the nose-band4 ,if you slip or stumble or he throws his head1 if you have him by the bit you jab him in the mouth1 and then even before he is in the vehicle he is sensitive and restive4 ,put your horse as near the carriage as possible without danger of hitting when in motion4 ,the tug girth1 which holds the shafts1 should be tight enough to hold the shafts in place in a four-wheeled carriage1 but loose enough to allow a certain amount of play in two-wheeled carriages4 ,where1 as in a gig harness1 the play is given by the tug itself1 this is not necessary4 ,in unharnessing1 take off the bearing-rein1 unfasten the traces1 then the tug girth--not vice versa1 so that if a horse starts forward there will be something to prevent the carriage running on his heels4 ,always loosen a curb-chain before taking off a bridle1--this applies equally to the horse in harness or under saddle1--and lastly the breeching4 ,the reins should be unbuckled from the bit1 drawn back through the terrets1 and hung over the arm or out of the way4 ,take off the pad1 turn the collar1 and take off the hames1 then turn the collar back and leave it in its place a few minutes to prevent galled shoulders4 ,the bit and curb-chain should be thrown into the bucket of lime water1 or at any rate cleaned carefully at once4 ,it is much easier to prevent rust than to get it off4 ,in taking out a pair1 the reins should be unbuckled first of all and pulled through from the front4 ,if you drive into the stable1 do it yourself before dismounting4 ,in taking off the traces1 begin with the inside one1 then the outside one1 then the pole-chains or pole-pieces4 ,take off the saddles1 turn the collars1 remove the hames1 leaving collars on as before4 ,it is a great saving of time1 and lessens confusion1 to fix the habit of both harnessing and unharnessing in a regular way1 until it becomes mechanical2 and mistakes are not made1 and accidents do not happen1 because the habit of doing things properly has become fixed4 ,have your buckle-rein on off-side horse4 ,first1 because that marks the rein1 and1 secondly1 because as that rein is the one not thrown across there is less likelihood of hitting and hurting the attendant on that side4 ,before you take the reins in your hand look over the trap1 harness1 and horse1 and see that all is right4 ,the stop on the shafts should by all means be behind the tugs2 the traces1 collar1 breeching1 bridle1 girths1 bit1 bearing-rein1 should be looked over1 first1 to see if you may drive in safety1 and then to confirm you in what you have learned about these things4 ,take the reins in the left hand1 the near rein over the second finger1 the off rein between the third and fourth finger4 ,no matter what the vehicle is1 take the whip with you when you get into it4 ,the whip in the socket is in the way1 and the whip should be almost as constantly in the hands as the reins anyway1 so that it is better to begin with the whip where it belongs4 ,then place the reins in the right hand with the whip1 mount to your place1 take your seat quickly1 change the reins back into the left hand1 see that they are about the right length without feeling your horse's mouth1 which would make him start before you are ready1 and you are ready to send your first telegram to your horse4 ,do it discreetly1 gently1 and if you are not where your voice will disturb other horses1 add a word of some kind1 preferably a signal not in common use between men and horses4 ,a horse learns quickly to recognize1 and does not forget1 his owner's voice4 ,that voice encourages1 soothes1 or commands him4 ,but where you are driving with or surrounded by others1 the use of your voice in the well-known click or chirrup would disturb all the horses and coachmen about you4 ,it is easy to accustom your own horses to any phrase3 ,come on now1 ,look alive1 or even ,what's the matter8 which conveys no message to other horses and at the same time rouses your own4 ,the writer has an intimate acquaintance with several horses who will start into action at hearing ,come on now1 in a well-known voice4 ,nothing is more disagreeable at a railway station1 in a hurly-burly of traps and horses1 than the clicking and clucking and snapping of whips1 which1 while meant for one or two horses1 disturb half a dozen4 ,two-thirds of the coachmen on private carriages catch sight of their masters1 flap the horses with the reins1 swing the whip1 and chirrup2 and yet they would be surprised to be told that they do not know the rudiments of driving4 ,nothing smacks more of the farmer than a man who1 behind you1 or passing you1 or standing near you and wishing to start1 clicks or clucks to his horse1 starting your horse up at the same time4 ,a man who cannot start one1 two1 or four horses with his hands1 and without a hullabaloo of noise1 is unworthy to sit behind horses at all4 ,if your horses are new to your stable1 or awkward and untrained1 feel the mouth gently1 and if this is not understood or is misunderstood1 use the whip gently and make your start in that way4 ,the perfection of starting is to have the horse feel his bit on his bars almost exactly at the moment his shoulders feel the collar--a fraction of a lightning stroke after1 to be exact4 ,when you are ready to start either out of the stable or from the door1 have the man stand clear4 ,no leading of the horse forward1 no pulling at bit or nose-band2 give the horse a chance to learn what you want of him without puzzling him with a variety of signals4 ,it is a little ahead of time to speak of it here1 but1 lest we forget1 it may be mentioned at once4 ,never allow the groom or grooms to stop your horse or horses1 whether one1 two1 or four1 when you drive into the stable4 ,this makes horses restless1 makes them back1 slide1 or kick1 and in the case of a four may result in a general mix-up4 ,stop your horses gradually1 with voice and reins1 but stop them yourself4 ,they have come in from the drive more or less accustomed to your hands and ways1 according as you are more or less proficient1 and a rough hand on bit or nose1 and an apparition in front of them1 ought to1 and generally does1 upset them4 ,besides all this you ought to1 and they ought to know how to stop properly1 and without fuss or flurry exactly when and where you wish them to1 even if it be on the cement floor of your stable entrance4 ,the reins should be held with the near rein between the thumb and first finger1 the off rein between the third and fourth fingers4 ,hold your hand so that your knuckles1 turned toward your horse1 and the buttons on your waistcoat1 will make two parallel lines up and down with the hand three or four inches from the body4 ,the reins should be clasped1 or held by the two lower1 or fourth and fifth fingers2 the second finger should point straight across and upward enough to keep the near rein over the knuckle of that finger and the thumb pointing in the same direction1 but not so much upward4 ,the reins are held1 not by squeezing them on their flat surface1 but by pressure on their edges4 ,the edges1 in a word1 being held between the two last fingers and the root of the thumb4 ,this arrangement makes a flexible joint1 the wrist1 for the reins and for the bit to play upon4 ,this suppleness of the wrist1 just enough and not too much1 is what is called hands4 ,it means1 that your wrist gives just enough play to the horse's mouth to enable him to feel your influence1 without being either confused or hampered by it4 ,as this is the key to perfection in all driving1 everybody claims to possess it2 only the elect few have it4 ,practically everybody can learn to play the piano or the violin1 or to write tolerable verses2 only a very few1 indeed1 ever attain to supreme command over these instruments1 or over the music of words4 ,training and teaching may accomplish much and make fair or even excellent performers2 but beyond that it is divine grace1 born not made1 given not attained4 ,the same is true of driving3 you may be one of the elect1 but if you are1 you belong to a society as small as that of the ,knights of the ,garter1 and you need not be vain1 since it was no hard work of yours1 but an endowment4 ,it is a combination of physical and mental traits1 a quickness of connection between nerve and brain and muscle1 that may be cultivated and improved in all men1 but which reaches perfection only in the few4 ,corbett1 in ,an ,old ,coachman's ,chatter1 says1 ,even for a good amateur to acquire professional style requires two years averaging eighty miles a day1 with a fair amount of night work4 ,a persistent man may do much4 ,he may learn to write excellent verse1 with no hope of ever being a poet2 he may learn to jump higher than the average1 without the slightest prospect of doing six feet1 six and a half inches1 which thus far has only been done by one man in the world2 he may learn to run1 or swim1 or speak1 but the heights of the unexcelled are not for him4 ,this much ought to be said about driving at the start4 ,you may read books from now till doomsday1 and you may practise1 and you will undoubtedly become an excellent and trustworthy coachman1 far above the average1--not a difficult attainment1 by the way1--but to have this magic of hands is not1 ,i believe1 attainable except to those endowed physically and mentally with peculiar powers1 in peculiar combination4 ,it is because everybody thinks he knows how to drive1 simply because he can steer quadrupeds with steel in their mouths1 that this point is emphasized4 ,no one need neglect this sport on the ground that the vision and the attainment are limited2 they are not1 and to most men even confident competence is denied1 not to speak of this virtuosity of hands4 ,now that you are in your seat with the reins as they should be1 between the thumb and second and between the third and fourth fingers of your left hand1 wrist properly bent1 and in a sufficiently humble and docile state of mind1 you should notice why the reins are separated by two fingers instead of one1 and why the near rein is kept so far as possible over the knuckle of the second finger4 ,just as the wrist makes play backward and forward1 so this separation of the reins enables you to make play sideways or across the horse's mouth4 ,by turning your hand toward you1 so that the knuckles1 instead of facing the horse1 face the sky1 you shorten that upper rein1 the near rein1 and your horse goes over to the left1 or near side4 ,by turning your hand just the other way and bringing it across to the left hip1 you shorten the off rein and turn your horse to the right4 ,all done with one hand1 you still have the other for your whip1 to render any assistance needed4 ,there are scores of times when to steer your horse1 and still to have the right hand free1 means not merely convenience1 but safety4 ,it is a peculiarity of driving that it is almost the one sport in which the sportsman is the custodian of1 and responsible for1 other people4 ,a man rides1 shoots1 and does other dangerous things alone1 but nine times out of ten he drives with others alongside of him4 ,it is doubly necessary1 therefore1 that he should know his business thoroughly1 and1 if he is to make a practice of driving others1 that he should spare no pains to know all that he can4 ,the fact that the left hand is held as directed keeps the reins secure1 and keeps them secure with the least possible exertion4 ,as this position of the hand1 wrist1 and fingers is a little awkward at first to the beginner1 most driving is done with the wrist not held across the body1 but pointing toward the horse1 with the thumb held over the reins as a sort of clip and pointing also toward the horse4 ,the reins held in this fashion are of necessity insecure and forever slipping forward1 and there is no leverage of wrist for the horse's mouth1 but a straight pull from an outstretched arm4 ,one often hears the comment that one cannot as easily hold a horse this way as with the reins1 say in both hands4 ,that is exactly the secret of it4 ,it is just so that you cannot keep a dead pull on the poor brute's mouth that this position is the ideal one4 ,you don't want to pull your horse1 but to drive him4 ,most driving1 by the way1 seems to have as its central feature how to stop him1 rather than how to make him go pleasantly2 how to get the quickest and sharpest jerk on his mouth in case of trouble1 rather than how to exert the least possible pressure that will command obedience4 ,with a well-bitted horse1 you should be able to make figure eights by moving the left hand as directed without touching the reins with the right hand at all4 ,the position of the hired coachman on the box of a ,victoria or brougham these days is a ludicrous one for the reason that most of them1 and evidently their masters1 know nothing of the reason for that position4 ,it was intended by balancing the coachman thus to prevent his putting great weight on the reins1 as he might do if his feet and legs stuck out in front of him and his hands were held at arm's length4 ,it is well and proper that he should be balanced on his seat with his back hollowed in1 his elbows at his side1 his hand across and in front of him2 but tucking his legs and feet back and way underneath him defeats the whole plan by forcing him to hold on by the reins1 which is just what it was hoped to avoid4 ,his feet and legs1 as in the case of the gentleman coachman1 should be at such an angle in front of him that he has a perfectly easy balance and something to brace against in case he needs to exert extra power4 ,on a lady's light ,victoria1 with nothing but the narrow foot-board in front of him1 a coachman in this new-fangled position is not only a figure of fun1 but he is also in grave danger of accident4 ,this monkey-on-a-stick attitude is a blundering misinterpretation of a perfectly sensible rule4 ,so far as the amateur coachman is concerned1 he should sit straight1 with his back so hollowed that he can balance easily on his hips1 not on the edge of1 but on the cushion1 with his feet and legs at a comfortable angle1 and without that look of going out after the reins one so often sees--a care-worn1 bent-over position1 as though the reins were sliding away1 never to reappear4 ,start out moderately1 keep your horse at an even pace1 and come in toward the end of your journey again at a moderate pace4 ,a horse is not saved by doing ten miles in two hours instead of one4 ,on the contrary1 it takes less out of a horse to make him do his journey at a smart gait rather than to dawdle4 ,you may have noticed yourself that a brisk two hours' walk takes far less out of you than the standing around1 the stopping and starting1 and the general dawdling of two hours' shopping4 ,here again the size of the horse's stomach should help to solve the problem of how fast and how far4 ,it is better that he should do his task at a brisk pace and get back to his rub down1 his meal1 and his rest1 than that he should be jogged for a long time at a stretch4 ,even when it is necessary to keep him going and to keep him away from his stable for an undue number of hours1 which must sometimes happen1 he should be given a short rest and a small meal of soft food2 this will make all the difference between over fatigue that may result seriously1 and fatigue easily cured by proper rest4 ,a horse worked at regular hours1 and regularly and properly fed1 is three-quarters of the way toward being and keeping in good condition4 ,just as he should be started quietly1 so he should be stopped quietly4 ,it is not the mark of good driving to bring your one horse1 or your team1 up to the stopping-place at a quick pace1 and then to pull up with a jerk--the horse's head in the air1 his mouth open because he has been jabbed by the bit1 the shafts pointing up1 the breeching tight1 and the horse almost on his haunches4 ,this kind of stopping takes more out of a horse than a mile of hard work4 ,begin to stop some time before you stop4 ,shorten your reins1 decrease your pace1 and whether it is driving in the traffic of the street or at your own door1 slow up gradually4 ,you can tell with certainty whether a man knows his business by the way he starts and stops4 ,if you have stopped as you should1 the horse is not sitting in the breeching1 with his collar sliding toward the top of his head2 but horse and vehicle are stopped1 and yet the horse and the vehicle and harness are all in position to go on again without a jerk4 ,this is of the utmost importance in driving in the city streets1 where you may find yourself in serious trouble if1 through inattention1 you have driven well into trouble1 before planning to stop4 ,your horse's nose1 or your pole1 has poked into another horse or vehicle1 or you are obliged to pull up so suddenly that you throw your horse1 or horses down4 ,in ,america1 where we turn to the right1 pull well over to your own side and slow down before you get to the street corner around which you wish to go1 whether to the right or left4 ,leave ample room for another vehicle to pass1 even though you should meet just at the turn4 ,many horses1 awkwardly enough1 get their legs crossed when turning1 and on slippery pavements1 where the pull up and the pull round come at the same time1 a horse is very apt to stumble1 and even to fall4 ,because you have turned many corners without accident is no reason for not taking pains4 ,many young coachmen escape perils through sheer ignorance1 but persistence in error and inattention bring their punishment sooner or later1 and the horse skins his knees1 or slides under the shafts in a crowd1 or kicks and hammers harness and trap to bits4 ,it is too late then to remember to keep an eye out for what is going on ahead of you1 to turn corners carefully1 and to slacken speed gradually1 and not all at once4 ,it is a safe rule in turning a corner to turn only when the hub of your front wheel has reached the line that the curb would make if prolonged1 then there is no danger of running on to or against the corner itself4 ,even when turning a corner to the right1 and you are close to the curb1 this rule1 if obeyed1 will keep both front and back wheels clear4 ,if this is not done1 the back wheel1 and sometimes both1 go rubbing around the curbstone1 which1 aside from the slovenliness of the performance1 is damaging to the wheel1 and racking to every bolt in the carriage4 ,if in the country1 where often a large stone marks the angle of the turn1 to hit this stone or to go over it is often to go over altogether4 ,the safest and quickest way to shorten the reins1 when it must be done in a pinch1 is to pull them through from behind4 ,if there are two reins1 grasp them between the thumb and second finger of the right hand1 open the fingers of the left hand enough to let them run through1 shorten them to the required length1 and take your grip on them again1 with the fingers of the left hand4 ,every man finds1 now and then1 either through the foolish driving of some one else1 or through unavoidable accident1 that he must shorten his reins quickly1 and without risk of dropping one4 ,under those circumstances the best way is to pull them through from behind1 though such exigencies occur but seldom with a careful driver4 ,under ordinary circumstances the best and gentlest way is to place the right hand on the reins1 in front of the left1 with thumb and finger over near rein and last three fingers over off rein1 and slide the left up the reins the required distance4 ,here again it is the mark of the careful driver that he never seems to be obliged to do things in a hurry4 ,when it is necessary to stop1 he has already shortened up his reins1 and is ready to stop4 ,when it is necessary to turn a corner1 he has already advised his horse by giving him the office1 and the corner is negotiated with scarcely the movement of the hands4 ,when it is time to start1 the horse seems to have been informed via the reins and bit1 and off he goes without a jerk4 ,in passing other vehicles from behind1 pass to their left4 ,do not pass at all unless you are going at a quicker pace1 and propose to maintain it4 ,to turn short across another man's horse1 and then go on at the same pace he is going1 is the veriest and vulgarest rudeness4 ,the only excuse for passing is that you are making faster time than he is1 and that you propose to keep it up4 ,drive with one hand4 ,in the show ring1 where horses must show pace in a small ring1 use the right hand on the off rein4 ,it gives better control1 and keeps the horse steadier4 ,keep the right hand cautiously near1 that you may use it to shorten the reins1 to steady the horse1 or to add force when the left hand is not sufficient4 ,carry your whip pointing upwards1 and slightly to the left1 say toward the left ear of your horse1 in driving one4 ,start slowly1 drive at the same pace1 once you are started2 it saves the horse1 and is far more agreeable to the passengers4 ,pull up gradually4 ,turn corners slowly1 and do not start to turn too soon4 ,be continuously careful to keep your horse's mouth fresh1 by giving and taking between your hand and his mouth1 with just enough pressure to keep him informed that you are behind him1 and no more4 ,if you hang on to his mouth1 be sure that he will end by pulling your arms out4 ,if you use the whip on him1 do not tap him continually1 or flick him1 here and there1 from time to time1 out of sheer idleness and inconsequence2 but if you use it1 do it so that the horse knows it is punishment and not play2 otherwise you waste the benefit to be derived from the whip1 by accustoming the horse to think that in your use of the whip you are merely playing with him4 ,above all1 keep a good lookout ahead1 and if you have a horse that is worth driving at all1 you may be sure that it is also worth your while to keep an eye on him all the time4 ,,chapter ,,xiii ,,driving ,a ,,pair ,so much depends upon the comfort of the horse in his harness that it is well worth the owner's time and attention to learn how the harness should be put on1 how the horses should be put to1 and then to see that both are done properly4 ,the collar goes on first1 and where horses are worked hard1 and regularly1 as in a road coach or on a driving tour1 it is well to put the collars on1 and leave them on a few moments before the rest of the harnessing is done4 ,the collar thus gets warm against the neck1 and there is that much less danger of rubbing and chafing the skin1 and making a bad start4 ,the usual custom is to put the collar on with the hames attached4 ,it is better to fasten the hames about the collar after the collar is on the horse1 thus avoiding the tendency to squeeze the collar on over his head4 ,after the saddle is on1 the crupper under the tail1 and the saddle-girth loosely buckled to keep the saddle in place1 then is the time to tighten up the hames4 ,the traces are crossed over the back of each horse with the outside trace on top4 ,the bridle is then put on1 and the reins drawn through the pad-terrets1 and the outside or draught rein buckled to the bit1 the inside or coupling rein fastened to the nose-band underneath by passing the billet through the loop1 but without buckling it4 ,then take the rein1 double it1 pass the bight of it through the terret1 with the loop over the bearing-rein hook4 ,the horses are now ready to be led out by the nose-band1 not by the bit1 and put to4 ,bring the horses up from behind alongside the pole1 rather than toward the pole1 when they must be turned1 and pushed up to the pole4 ,once there1 fasten them to the pole1 and buckle the pole-strap at the end hole1 the near horse first1 then the off horse4 ,next fasten the traces1 the outside one always first4 ,this seems awkward1 and like doing things upside down4 ,the reason for it1 however1 is all-sufficient4 ,if the inside trace is put on first1 the horse may1 often does1 in fact1 edge out from the pole at the touch of something on the pole side of him1 and there is a struggle to get him back so that the outside trace may be put on4 ,this may upset the other horse1 and trouble follows4 ,here1 and at all other times1 remember that in dealing with horses1 under every and all conditions1 a stitch in time saves at least eighteen4 ,therefore put the outside trace on first1 then the inside trace1 then proceed to pole up your horses1 that is to say1 put your pole-pieces through the kidney-link from the inside out1 and tighten them up to what you consider the proper length4 ,this adjustment is a very nice one1 and can only be done accurately by one who1 when driving1 notes carefully the effect upon pole1 pole-pieces1 and collars1 of a hole more or less4 ,the horses should not carry the pole1 through being poled too tight2 neither should the pole go bobbing about1 through being poled too loose4 ,over rough roads1 horses should be poled up rather loosely1 to give play to the pole2 otherwise1 every jar will swing and bump the whole vehicle4 ,in park driving1 or driving over smooth roads1 they may be poled up more closely4 ,the more compact are horses1 vehicle1 and coachman acting together as one1 the more easily and smoothly everything goes2 but this is not to be interpreted as approval of poling up horses so tight that they are carrying the pole1 and are cramped and impeded4 ,pole-pieces of leather1 or chains1 are a matter of custom4 ,no vehicle has chains where the coachman drives2 while a mail-phaeton1 or lady's phaeton1 where the master or mistress drives1 usually has chains rather than leather4 ,an authority to be depended upon always in such matters1 writes3 ,pole chains should be used only on a carriage driven by the master or mistress1 such as a coach1 mail-phaeton1 or lady's phaeton2 never on a carriage driven by a coachman1 such as a landau1 coup1 or ,victoria1 when straps should be used4 ,this is a custom based upon the fact that the working originals of coaches and mail-phaetons had chains2 an adherence to it marks the difference between well turned out and badly turned out vehicles4 ,both breastplates and pole-pieces should go1 the former round both collar and hames1 and the latter round the collar and through the kidney-link ring and not through the ring alone2 otherwise the small strap at the top of the collar holding the hames together is the only safeguard1 and should this break1 away goes your pole1 and probably your horses4 ,but this precaution is only necessary in heavy work4 ,the breastplate holds even if the hame-strap breaks1 and to put the pole-straps around the collar chafes the horse's neck4 ,after the horses are poled up and their traces fastened1 the coupling-reins are fastened to the bits4 ,certain writers on the subject advise buckling the coupling-reins first of all4 ,the writer has no criticism to pass upon this1 except that experience shows that fastening two horses together by the head1 and then going to their heels for the traces1 often works badly4 ,as long as they are fastened together by their collars to the pole it is not a matter of much moment anyway4 ,it is a matter for one's own judgment and experience rather than of fixed law4 ,all the other matters of precedence and procedure in harnessing have a rational sanction which makes them imperative4 ,the reins are buckled together on the off side and1 as in the case of each single rein1 the bight of them passed through the off pad-terret of the off horse and looped over the bearing-rein hook4 ,your pair is now ready for your inspection2 this done1 and as you are about to take the reins1 the bearing-reins are put on their hooks4 ,in the case of green or nervous horses it is well to start them off first1 fastening the bearing-reins as they move off1 and thus avoid jibbing1 backing1 and even rearing in the stable4 ,take the reins in the right hand with the middle finger between them1 see that the buckles of both reins are the same length from your hand1 pull both reins out some ten inches1 then give the off rein a few inches more1 get your whip in your hand1 mount to your seat1 sit down1 put your reins in your left hand with the index and middle finger between them1 and you will find yourself with both reins of about the same length and of about the right length4 ,another measure of the proper length of the reins before mounting is to hold the reins in the left hand1 step back until you are on a line with the horse's hocks1 holding the left hand close to the body4 ,when seated the reins will be of the right length 7,plate ,,xxix474 ,always ask if everything is right before you feel the mouths of the horses4 ,the groom may be just putting on a last touch1 or he may be looking the other way1 as you give the signal to start1 and there follows a lame foot1 or even a knock-down2 and so much depends upon a fair start that it is worth some pains to get it4 ,the whip should be held at the place where the ferrule goes round the handle1 as all good whip-makers make their whips to balance at that point 7,plate ,,xxix474 ,the knees and feet should be together2 the feet not poked out as though you were standing on them1 nor tucked under you as though you were ashamed of them4 ,you will balance better if you sit straight with your back hollowed in at the small of it4 ,to lengthen or shorten the reins put the right hand on the reins in front of the left with the little and fourth finger on the right hand or off rein1 leaving the left hand or near rein between the fourth and middle fingers1 and the thumb and index finger over the same--the near rein 7,plate ,,xxix474 ,you may shorten the reins now1 by just so much1 as you place the right hand in front of the left1 by sliding the left hand up to the right1 and taking your grip again4 ,it is best to do this gradually1 taking in a little of the reins at a time1 rather than by taking ten or twelve inches at a time4 ,whether it be the left or the right hand that is in front1 the hand in front should for the time being hold the reins4 ,never1 under any circumstances1 get the thumb under the near rein nor the little finger under the off rein1 a very common and faulty practice4 ,the reason being that in such a situation your right hand is hampered in moving quickly1 by having the thumb under the rein1 your left hand likewise by having the little finger under instead of on top of the rein4 ,as all these movements should be made mechanically1 without looking at the reins1 the fingers should be so placed and kept that there is no mixing up in the process4 ,the right hand indeed should do its fingering of the reins as quickly and accurately as a practised pianoforte player picks out and strikes his notes4 ,in stopping1 place the right hand on the reins from eight to ten inches in front of the left1 as described above1 press the right hand in toward the body while raising the left hand4 ,if this is not enough1 hold the reins in the right hand1 pass the left in front1 and take in more rein1 the right coming forward again to the front place4 ,in an emergency1 it is always safest to pull the reins through from behind with the right hand 7,plate ,,xxix474 ,to the inexperienced this is quicker and safer1 whether with two reins or four4 ,in driving a pair of roadsters1 so called1 they are put to with their heads far apart1 and bitted with plain snaffle-bits4 ,such a pair must be driven with two hands1 one rein in each hand1 in order to keep an even pressure upon their mouths4 ,before you have gone very far along a straight road you will notice1 unless you are driving a thoroughly made1 mannered1 and properly put together pair1 that one horse does more work than the other1 or that one horse seems to be in front of the other4 ,this is caused by the formation of the horses1 the length of the traces1 the coupling-reins4 ,traces stretch with wear1 and when this has become apparent1 the shorter traces should be used on the inside2 if they are on the outside1 it is easy to see that this will put the pull on the collar where it should not be1 and gall the shoulders4 ,the lazier or shorter horse should be in shorter traces4 ,as to the coupling-reins1 this is1 strange to say and to see1 a part of the harness that many drivers of horses never examine1 and never alter1 any more than they think of trying to change the diameter of their wheels4 ,as a matter of fact1 the coupling-reins are the key to the problem of driving a pair or a four comfortably4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxix4--,,driving ,a ,,pair ,if you will examine a pair of two-horse reins1 you will notice that they are just like the two reins for one horse--one rein goes on the outside of the bit of one horse1 and one goes on the outside of the bit of the other horse4 ,these are called the draught-reins4 ,but there is a marked difference1 for on each of these reins is buckled another rein1 called the coupling-rein2 the one on the left rein goes over and is buckled on the inside of the bit of the right-hand horse1 and the coupling-rein of the right rein goes over and is buckled on the inside of the bit of the left-hand or near horse4 ,in buckling these coupling-reins to the bits1 if one horse is more up-headed than the other1 let his coupling-rein be on top1 so that he will not annoy the other horse by jerking up the other's coupling-rein4 ,the adjustment of these reins should be suited to the conformation and disposition of the horses1 and it is in this adjustment that the experienced whip makes himself and his horses comfortable1 by making them go together1 and go level4 ,no two horses suit each other exactly as to length of body or neck1 or the way of carrying the head1 and yet you may see dozens of pairs of reins where the coupling-rein buckles have apparently never been changed6 ,the buckles of the coupling-reins should be near enough to the hand in pair or four driving--say eighteen inches--to enable one to change the couplings from the driving-cushion4 ,in most harnesses there are two or three holes in the billet that buckles to the bit1 so that the length may be changed also at the bit4 ,there are arguments for and against this practice of having holes in the billet4 ,it is said that this makes it easy to change a coupling from the ground2 on the other hand1 an ignorant groom may make the change there unknown to the coachman1 and thus cause confusion4 ,take your choice6 ,the object of these two inside1 or coupling1 reins is to hold the horses together1 at the head1 of course1 and they should be so adjusted that an even pressure is brought to bear on both sides of the horses' mouths1 so that they will go straight1 and do each his share of the work4 ,if horses were all alike1 it would be easy enough to buckle these coupling-reins in the same hole on each draught-rein1 and your horses would be level4 ,but suppose we have two horses1 one of which1 the near horse1 carries his head higher than the other and out farther than the other4 ,if these two are to go level1 the near horse must have his reins longer than those of his mate4 ,up and down the draught-reins are punched some fifteen holes in four-in-hand harness1 fewer in pair-horse harness1 and an inch apart1 and the coupling-reins can be buckled longer or shorter by buckling up and down these reins4 ,in the case we are describing1 we must of course let out the coupling-rein of the up-headed1 near side horse1 say three holes1 and 7remember that the near side coupling-rein is the one buckled on to the off side draught-rein and vice versa7 take up the near side coupling-rein the same number4 ,it must be remembered in this operation1 however1 that the shortening of the coupling-rein brings the horses' heads nearer together1 and if they were going properly1 parallel to the pole1 and at the right distance apart1 before one coupling-rein was shortened1 then1 if this relative position to one another is to be maintained1 the other coupling-rein must be let out an equal number of holes4 ,illustration ,when the horses are working exactly alike1 the reins are as shown by the heavy lines2 ,a and ,b are the two sides of the off horse's bit1 and ,c and ,d the two sides of the near horse's bit4 ,the two outside or draught reins run straight to the coachman's hand1 viz4 ,,am and ,,dn4 ,the coupling-reins are ,,cm and ,,bn1 buckled to the draught-reins ,m and ,n4 ,if the off horse bends his neck so as to bring his head nearer to his body1 both the reins which run to his bit will be too slack1 and he will run forward and do more than his share of the work1 while the near horse is held back4 ,to prevent this the off horse's coupling-rein to ,,bn is shortened by running it up the draught-rein to ,n'1 the last hole1 until it comes just tight to the bit2 but this obviously leaves the off draught-rein ,,am as slack as it was before1 so that the coachman has to draw his hand back to bring it to bear upon the bit at ,a'4 ,in so doing he draws back the coupling-rein ,,cm and pulls the head of the near horse to the inside4 ,to prevent this the coupling-rein ,,cm must be let out on its draught-rein exactly as much as the other coupling-rein has been taken up1 which is equivalent to pulling back the draught-rein1 whereupon the coupling-reins will have the positions shown by the dotted lines with the buckle of ,c rein in the first hole1 and all the reins will act evenly upon both horses1 notwithstanding that the mouth and bit of the off horse is nearer to the coachman's hand than that of the near horse4--,,fairman ,,rogers1 ,a ,manual of ,coaching4 ,the most common fault in adjusting coupling-reins1 next to that of having one horse in advance of the other1 is that of having the horses coupled too closely1 or too loosely1 together2 in the first case the horses must go awkwardly1 with their heads too close together1 with a tendency to make them stumble1 and in the other1 with their heads yawing apart1 and not under proper control4 ,some horses are greatly irritated by being made to go on one side of the bit only1 and often enough a pair going all sorts of ways will settle down and go well enough where their coupling-reins are so adjusted that they can go level1 with an equal pressure of the bit on both sides of the mouth4 ,the matter of bearing-reins has been discussed already1 but it is worth repeating over and over again1 especially in the case of pair-horse driving1 that bearing-reins should never be omitted4 ,the pole-end1 or his mate's bridle1 offer various opportunities to a nervous horse who throws his head about to catch his bit or some part of his bridle1 and tear it off or break it2 and a bitless and bridleless horse is an equine anarchist1 beyond human power of judging or controlling4 ,where you have whiffletrees in front of you1 it is easy to see which horse is doing too much or too little work2 but when in heavy harness1 with traces fixed to roller-bolts1 the traces and reins must tell the story4 ,the object in this form of driving is1 of course1 to make both horses do an equal amount of work1 uphill and down1 and to keep them going at an even pace4 ,in determining which horse to put on the near side and which on the off side1 several things should be taken into consideration4 ,first1 in this country we turn to the right1 and as most roads are made with a crown in the centre rather than absolutely level1 the off horse or horse on the right-hand side has a little more work to do1 in that he must do most of the pulling1 when the carriage turns off to the right1 and must then be pulled back again4 ,therefore the bigger or stronger horse of the two may go on that side4 ,second1 if one of the horses is more nervous or more inclined to shy than the other1 he is better off on the off side1 where he is less in contact with passing horses1 vehicles1 automobiles1 and the like4 ,so far as the matter of punishment with the whip is concerned1 in pair-horse driving it is as easy to get at one as the other1 though some people prefer to have the less amenable animal of the pair on the off side and under their hand4 ,it is much better for the horses1 if other things are equal1 to change them about1 so that they go one day on one side and another day on the other4 ,horses1 particularly in the city1 where the tendency is to pole them up tightly1--too tightly1--so that they may be easily handled in the crowded streets1 are apt to get into bad habits if driven always on the same side4 ,they get one-sided mouths1 hit themselves1 but apparently brighten up1 as though refreshed1 when changed about4 ,it is generally accepted as an axiom1 that horses should be as close to their work as possible4 ,as a matter of fact1 this makes little difference to the draught of the vehicle2 but it does undoubtedly make a very great difference in backing1 starting1 turning1 and the general management of the horses by the coachman1 and on that account it is well to have your horses as close to the vehicle1 and to your hand1 as possible4 ,before going into details as to the handling of the reins1 one very important error should be noticed at the start4 ,driving is not knowledge of how to hold the reins1 how to give the offices to make points1 etc41 but real driving is the knowledge and practical experience of all those things which come before you get up on to your vehicle at all4 ,the writer was seated beside the driver of an omnibus in ,london some ten years ago1 at a time when everything pertaining to the handling of horses in harness was a keen interest4 ,the heavy buss with its load of passengers was stopped and started and guided through the heavy traffic of ,piccadilly without fuss or trouble and without jar to the passengers4 ,when ,i complimented the ,jehu on his work1 he replied1 ,well1 you see1 sir1 there's plenty of drivers about1 but there's not many of us coachmen left6 ,that is the gist of the matter4 ,a coachman is one who1 through knowledge1 and experience1 and natural ability1 keeps his horses1 passengers1 and himself comfortable and safe while doing the best attainable work with least effort to all concerned4 ,the driver is a mere steerer of horses by artificial shortening and lengthening of reins that he has been taught4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxx4--,,driving ,a ,,pair ,it would be a trifling task to write a book on driving for those who only wish to become drivers2 but it is no small matter even to hint at the variety of knowledge necessary to one who wishes to become even a moderately good coachman4 ,now that we have arrived at this subject of the handling and fingering of the reins1 it must not be overlooked that this is literally the superficial part of the business1 and if it is built upon a foundation of complete ignorance of the horse1 his house1 his harness1 his history1 and his physical make-up1 it will always remain superficial and unsatisfactory4 ,on the other hand1 once these fundamental matters have been studied and understood1 the handling of the reins becomes all-important to the coachman4 ,first of all1 spare no pains to get your reins in your left hand at the proper length1 and once there they should be kept there4 ,all the nicety of driving depends upon this4 ,if the reins must be lengthened and shortened every few minutes1 none of the directions to follow can be of much use4 ,such give and take as there must be between hand and bits should come wholly from the gentle give and take of the wrist4 ,when the reins are to be shortened for going down hill1 and lengthened again going up1 the two methods for this operation have been described in the chapter on driving one horse4 ,with a nicely bitted pair1 the turn to the left and the turn to the right may be made by turning the hand as directed in the same chapter4 ,where more power is required1 the turn to the left may be made by looping or making points to left or right as may be required4 ,the point to the left is made by taking the upper or near rein with the thumb and index finger or with the little and fourth fingers of the right hand1 pulling it back a few inches1 according to the angle of the turn1 and placing the bight of the rein under the thumb 7see ,plate ,,xxx474 ,close the thumb down on the reins and hold it there until your horses have fully responded1 then lift the thumb and this near rein slips back into place of itself4 ,be careful to keep your point under the thumb until the turn is made1 otherwise--and a common fault--the slackening of this rein will land you in the middle of the turn with the horses going exactly the other way4 ,by thus looping your rein the left hand is kept steadily in its place1 and the right hand is entirely free to be used in case the other horse is too quick or too sluggish4 ,if the off horse is inclined to go round too fast and shove his mate over1 the right hand is there to put on his rein and restrain him4 ,if1 on the other hand1 he is too sluggish1 and does not obey quickly enough1 your right hand is there to touch him up with the whip and make him do what is required of him4 ,in turning to the right1 the under rein or off rein may be looped in the same way1 but this time under the index finger1 rather than the thumb1 though the thumb may be used1 and the turn made to the right in the same fashion and with the same methods as before4 ,although the making of points and opposition and so on are usually for four and tandem driving1 it is much neater and quieter to use these methods on a much smaller scale for your pair4 ,it is quieter and less conspicuous than pulling the reins and gets one in1 and keeps one in1 the valuable habit of fingering the reins accurately1 quietly1 and mechanically1 leaving the eyes and attention for other and more important matters4 ,whenever a loop is taken or any other indication attempted of what you want your horses to do1 avoid confusion by giving a variety of signals at one and the same time4 ,for example1 in taking a loop1 if you allow your left hand to slide forward to receive it under the thumb instead of letting the right hand bring it back1 you slacken your reins and your horses start forward just when they should be well in hand4 ,if a horse feels this tightening of the rein from the point you are making and then feels the pressure lessen1 he will whip back again2 hence the necessity for holding your point until the horses have responded fully4 ,it is much better to hold a point too long than to let it go before its work is done4 ,in pulling reins toward you1 do not draw the rein to one side1 thus drawing the hands apart1 but pull directly toward the body--straight back1 in short4 ,never let your right hand get so far away from the left that it cannot be used instantly when wanted4 ,if you are a beginner1 get a steady pair and keep at this fingering of the reins2 the starting1 with pressure of the right hand in front of the left just enough to feel their mouths2 the stopping1 with right hand properly grasping the reins2 the points to the left and the right1 and the shortening of the reins1 until these matters are done quickly and automatically without the necessity of looking at your hands at all4 ,and though this be a treatise on driving1 let us be frank and say that a good teacher is better than any book4 ,sit beside a good coachman as often as you can and watch him like a lynx4 ,get a good coachman to sit beside you and tell you and explain to you2 then go back to your book again1 and you will get much more out of it than before4 ,a brilliant ,frenchman has said that he studied books while he was waiting to study men4 ,the book-learning is far more valuable when supplemented by practice4 ,on the other hand1 it is only the very ignorant in these days who do not make what use they can of other men's experience and practice1 by studying up in books any subject in which they are interested4 ,to read a good book on driving helps your teacher even more than it helps you1 in that you have at least some inkling of the elementary principles of what he is to teach you4 ,even with one horse these manuvres may be gone through with1 and every turn1 and start1 and stop1 made with the same nicety and care1 as though one were driving his drag at a meet of the coaching-club4 ,mr4 ,underhill's sumptuous book is entitled ,driving for ,pleasure4 ,there is an amusing chapter to be written on ,driving for ,punishment1 with illustrations from life1 if one cared to write it4 ,the distortions of face1 hands1 and body1 through trying to do simple things in an awkward and roundabout way2 the mixing up of whip1 hands1 and reins1 through not having toiled sufficiently over the elementary stages of the art of driving2 the brake on or off when it should not be1 and a complete loss of head1 the horses any way1 and their owner in roseate confusion1 are phases of the driving for punishment one often sees4 ,and be it said1 driving is a punishment indeed1 when bad bitting1 ill-fitting harness1 horses badly put to1 and awkward handling of reins1 whip1 and brake1 are of one and the same combination4 ,,chapter ,,xiv ,,driving ,,four ,about the year #ahdj1 with the advent of railways in ,england1 coaching1 for a time at least1 practically came to an end4 ,before that time1 all transportation of passengers1 mail1 and small merchandise was by coach4 ,the mail-coaches were under government control1 and as representing the ,sovereign1 had rights and privileges1 and were entitled to respect4 ,many of the present-day usages are reminders of that time1 and relics of ancient customs4 ,that other vehicles should give way to the mail-coach1 that the constables should salute as it passed1 that other coachmen should recognize it by saluting1 can be readily appreciated4 ,in ,england to-day1 the coaches running out of ,london with their loads of passengers1 bent on a day's pleasant outing merely1 are treated much in the same way4 ,all but surly drivers make way for them1 the police salute1 many of the other coachmen salute1 and the forms of what were once realities still obtain4 ,both there and here many people forget1 that these coaches must take out a license1 and are bound by the laws governing other vehicles employed for the transportation of passengers4 ,the coach put on each season by the ,coaching-club of ,new ,york1 and which has run latterly from the ,holland ,house to ,ardsley on the ,hudson and return1 although it may be done primarily for sport1 is none the less governed by the terms of its license4 ,hence it is that a good sportsman1 in undertaking such a duty1 goes rain or shine1 makes a point of being on time1 insists upon promptness1 not as a fad of his own1 but because these are the implied articles of agreement between him and the city when he takes out his license4 ,like all other good sport1 there is an element of hard work and tyranny in it4 ,the coachman must at all times obey the laws of the sport4 ,to buy1 train1 and drive the horses1 and carry out a successful schedule for six weeks or so1 with the innumerable details involved1 is a task requiring knowledge1 experience1 tact1 and patience4 ,the man who can do this may be said to have passed his postgraduate examination as a first-class coachman4 ,there are not many men who can do that1 but there is plenty of sport to be had in driving four horses1 this side of that supreme ability4 ,men who lack the time1 money1 knowledge1 and experience to put a coach on the road may still1 with benefit to themselves1 and to the inmates of their stables1 drive four horses4 ,although there was coaching in a sense in this country1 from ,revolutionary times and before 7see ,chapter ,,iii471 the first regular ,english coach sent to this country to be used for pleasure driving was imported in #ahfj by ,mr4 ,lawrence of ,boston4 ,the first public coach was put on the road in #ahgf by ,colonel ,delancey ,kane1 and ran from the ,brunswick ,hotel1 ,new ,york1 to ,pelham4 ,monotony probably destroys more people than any one form of dissipation4 ,humanity wearies of the round of duties day after day1 and attempts by drink1 or dissipation1 or by running away from duty1 to break in upon it or to break away from it4 ,it takes the very highest qualities to stick it out1 whatever may be the duty4 ,plato maintained that change is rest4 ,many men work all the time2 their only rest is change of work4 ,he is a diplomat in life who remembers this dangerous quality of monotony1 and in his own life1 and the life about him1 seeks to diversify it4 ,this principle can be applied to the subject of driving as well1 if not better1 than to most others4 ,to drive one horse1 over one road1 day in and day out1 becomes a weariness to the flesh1 instead of a refreshment4 ,if you have only one horse1 you can at least both ride him and drive him4 ,if you have two1 you can drive them abreast as a pair1 or one in front of the other as a tandem1 and both can be ridden4 ,as soon as your stable enlarges to four1 you can have no end of variety if care and patience are exercised4 ,strange to say1 too1 the horses join in the fun4 ,a horse likes a new road and enjoys going in a new way4 ,it will take time and trouble to teach your horses to go tandem1 and in a four2 but once they are taught1 they enjoy it quite as much as you do4 ,of course we are writing now of those who wish to get practice and pleasure out of their stables1 not merely for those who use their horses for purposes of transportation only4 ,do not start out with the notion that the only way to drive a tandem1 or a four1 is to have exactly the proper vehicle1 the right harness to the shape of a buckle1 and horses of just such and such a character4 ,the show ring is one thing2 driving for sport and pleasure is quite another4 ,practically any man who will spend enough money can win prizes in the show ring2 and it is only occasionally nowadays1 when so much money is spent for show-ring horses and equipages1 that a man of moderate means can hope to win in these tournaments4 ,he may by good judgment1 in buying and training1 bring out a winner now and then2 but he has little chance against those who are willing to pay any price for a ready-made winner4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxxi4 ,it is a good thing to know how horses and vehicle should be turned out1 even down to minute details2 but a book1 a coach-builder1 a harnessmaker and a bank-account never yet made a sportsman1 at this1 or any other game4 ,as has been said before in another chapter1 form is only rational when it is the proper clothing of an idea2 it is ridiculous and unworthy when it is merely an idea of proper clothing4 ,of tandem driving we have written in another chapter4 ,if you cannot have a four1 costing1 with coach1 horses1 and harness1 #ae1jjj or more1 why not have just as much sport1 and far more valuable experience1 by a more economical arrangement8 ,buy your horses with a purpose1 to begin with4 ,let the saddle-horses serve as leaders1 the blockier1 heavier harness horses in the wheel4 ,or if you run to smaller sizes1 two of #ae4a in the wheel and your polo ponies #ad4b in the lead1 with a pony break behind them1 make a capital four4 ,if a second-hand harness is not procurable1 terrets on your wheelers' saddles and bridles make any stout double harness serviceable2 and an extra pair of long reins and long traces fit out your leaders1 and there you are4 ,any man who can afford to keep four horses can1 if he will give the problem time and trouble1 have the practice of driving four4 ,be it said at once that the best practice is that of driving different teams every day1 and that can only be obtained where there is a good deal of road coaching1 and you are of an ability to be permitted to drive4 ,next to that1 probably1 comes the experience and knowledge to be derived from getting together1 harnessing1 bitting1 and getting to go1 a four out of your own stable4 ,most books and most teachers deal with the subject of driving four as though appearances counted ninety-seven per cent1 and your own pleasure and profit three per cent4 ,we are dealing with four-in-hand driving here as a pastime1 as an opportunity for variety in your own driving1 and as a refreshing change in their way of going for your horses4 ,remember always that it is not hard on1 but good for1 your horses to give them variety of work4 ,horses that are well housed1 carefully fed and watered1 comfortably harnessed1 and discreetly driven are much better for change of scene and change of work4 ,this is not intended to mean that a light1 high-strung lady's saddle-horse is improved by being put to work in the wheel of a break2 or that1 of any horse1 too much work or the kind of work to which he is palpably unsuited should be required of him4 ,what is maintained here is that very few owners of horses get all the fun out of them that there is to be had4 ,these questions of pole-chains or leather pole-pieces1 this or that shape of bit1--so long as the bit fits the inside of the horse's mouth1--housings or no housings1 stable-clothes or breeches and boots1 are all matters that come after1 not before1 driving4 ,the study of appearances comes after the knowledge of essentials1 not before4 ,appearances as the result of knowledge take care of themselves2 but the mere study of appearances teaches nothing4 ,when you have learned to harness and put to your horses1 start1 stop1 turn them1 and keep them going evenly1 at a proper pace2 and when your thong is as easily handled as a walking-stick1 then will be time enough to investigate matters of buttons1 hat brims1 curve of bit-shanks1 whiphandles1 cut of greatcoats1 and methods of saluting with the whip4 ,a certain amount of strength is the first requisite in driving four horses4 ,it is calculated that the weight on the hand of the four reins1 averages from six to ten pounds for a light1 well-bitted team1 less perhaps for a perfect team1 and running up as high as twenty-five1 to even more1 pounds in holding a team going down hill4 ,the writer remembers the painful numbness of the left forearm when he first drove four1 years ago4 ,it is well to invigorate the arms1 and to begin a very little at a time at this exercise1 or an overdose at a first lesson may put the forearm out of commission for some days4 ,pulleys1 dumb-bells1 ,indian clubs1 or carrying a loaded walking-stick will muscle up the arm and put it in condition4 ,the use of the four-in-hand whip is so all-important that it should not be left to the last1 but practised persistently from the start4 ,many teams1 bitted and trained by professionals and only driven in the park by their owners1 require almost no use of the thong2 and as a result many drivers of four horses can hardly put up a thong1 let alone use it with any success4 ,place the point of the thong under the fingers1 grasping the stick1 not at the end1 but at the point where the ferrule encircles it 7,plate ,,xxxi474 ,swing the point of the stick from left to right with a slight downward movement1 then make a quick half circle from left to right and upward1 and your thong will curl around your stick three or four times and hold there4 ,the lower part of the thong will curl around the handle the opposite way4 ,between the upper and lower coil will hang a bight of the thong 7,plate ,,xxxi474 ,move your stick over to the left or driving hand1 pull out the lower coil with the thumb and forefinger of that hand1 and place the point of your thong again under your right hand1 the thong now going around the stick in the same direction all the way down so that it is easily unwound when wanted 7,plate ,,xxxi474 ,the point of the thong is more secure in your right hand if it is wrapped a couple of times around the handle1 though there is high authority against this practice1 on the ground that it is not so easy to unwind your thong when wanted4 ,if you are a beginner1 you will find it safer to make the couple of turns around the handle4 ,mr4 ,bronson1 who was one of the very best of our ,american whips1 held1 and with justice1 that the point of the thong should not be wrapped around the stick1 maintaining that just when the hands were needed it required two hands to undo it4 ,the whip should be held pointing upward and to the left4 ,when the thong hangs over the middle of the back of the near wheeler1 your whip will be in about the right position4 ,the way usually recommended for putting up the thong is to make a large ,s on the wall and follow this with the point of the whip1 beginning at the bottom and moving across from left to right4 ,to do this1 start slowly from left to right1 and let the upper curve be made with a turn of the wrist which will bring the fingers uppermost at the finish4 ,it is exasperatingly easy1 and exasperatingly difficult4 ,once you get the knack1 it is like skating and swimming1 you wonder how you were ever puzzled4 ,if these directions are not clear1 get some one to pound it into you by persistent instruction2 for1 of all awkward things1 none is more so than the confusion arising from a dangling thong1 that cannot be made to go up1 and stay up1 where it belongs4 ,nothing but constant practice makes one comfortable with the whip4 ,if you are driving in the country1 unwind and put up your thong constantly2 even take out your four-in-hand whip with one or two horses1 and practise1 practise1 practise4 ,some day1 in a crowded street or in the park1 when a cut of the whip is imperatively necessary and a quick return of the thong to its place as necessary1 you will not regret a moment of the time spent in this way4 ,do not trust to luck in this matter4 ,what is usually called luck is1 after all1 the happy way ability and opportunity have of often meeting4 ,keep your thong pliable1 otherwise it will not stay in its place and be difficult to put up4 ,in using your whip1 make as little fuss and noise as possible2 each horse should be hit so that the other three hear nothing and know nothing4 ,do not flick a horse1 but hit and draw the thong at the same time1 then it means something4 ,in putting up your thong1 do not make a flourish with the arm4 ,it is just as easy to put the thong up with the right elbow at the side4 ,the wheelers should be hit in front of the pad1 down the shoulder2 it is better to hit the off wheeler on the off shoulder if his mate is restive4 ,if there is kicking1 the best punishment is a cut over the ears4 ,in hitting the off leader1 swing the point of your stick out to the right2 once the thong is unwound1 make a turn1 and bring the stick forward quickly1 when the thong will travel forward under the stick4 ,always aim to hit a leader under his traces1 and when you hit him let him know that he has been hit4 ,always aim farther ahead than you mean to hit4 ,you cannot go too far1 and you may be short4 ,to catch the thong again1 take it back1 away from your horses1 and point the stick over your left arm1 allowing the thong to fall first1 or point your stick up1 and let the thong slide down the inside of it to your hand4 ,pull the thong through with the finger and thumb of the left hand till the point is within a few inches of the right hand1 then put up the thong as directed4 ,to hit the near leader is a little more difficult1 and a good reason1 by the way1 for putting the lazier leader on the off side4 ,untwist your thong as before on the right side of you1 swing the thong over all your horses so that it hangs on the left side of the coach1 then with a turn of the stick shoot your thong as before1 stopping the point of the stick at about the pad of the near wheeler1 when the point of the thong will hit the near leader's hocks4 ,in getting your thong back from this position1 swing it from left to right over all your horses1 and point the stick again over the left arm1 when the thong will fall over the reins near the hand or1 if well done1 into the hand4 ,then proceed as before4 ,the near wheeler may be hit on the quarters also1 by throwing the lash between the heads of the wheelers1 though this is condemned by many as a bad practice4 ,this needs practice1 particularly in getting your thong back to your hand4 ,never attempt to use the whip while the right hand is on the reins or holding a rein4 ,first1 because you cannot use the whip with any effect1 and second1 because you are sure to jab one of your horses in the mouth by a jerk on the rein you happen to be handling4 ,see that your thong is all clear before attempting to put it up4 ,you will find that it has a disconcerting way of catching on the rein buckles1 the handles of the foot-board1 or even on the lamps4 ,if in using your thong it catches in any part of the harness1 treat it gently2 do not pull at it1 which only makes it hold faster2 and if it will not come loose by these measures1 send the servant down to loosen it4 ,if your thong catches in boughs of trees or the like1 do not hang on to the stick1 but let the whole thing go and send back for it4 ,in saluting1 drop your whip into your left hand and take off your hat if it be a lady you would recognize4 ,few things are more parochial in these matters than to see a man making a conspicuous sword salute with his whip to a lady who is either in another vehicle or on the road4 ,in saluting others1 a movement of the whip from left to right with the forearm is enough4 ,it has the merit of not taking the right hand far from the reins1 and is less conspicuous than the use of the whip as a sword1 by bringing the handle up to your chin4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxxii4--,,driving ,,four ,it is an old-time custom among the drivers of road-coaches in ,england to take off the hat to a chimney-sweep4 ,just why it is supposed to bring luck1 like killing spiders in the morning and letting them live in the evening1 and fifty other fancies of a like kind1 the writer cannot explain4 ,in approaching trouble1 where you are likely to need your thong1 unwind it and hold only the point under your thumb4 ,a cut in time may save a whole side of harness6 ,four horses with a heavy vehicle behind them--a drag weighs from twenty-one to twenty-four hundred pounds1 a public coach from twenty-four hundred to three thousand pounds--and loaded with passengers occupies a good deal of space1 gathers a good deal of momentum1 and needs a good deal of skill in its governor4 ,the very assumption of the task of driving is a great responsibility4 ,no man should undertake it lightly4 ,to know the whole game1 and to do it supremely well1 requires many1 many months of constant and studious practice4 ,the easier it looks1 the more capable is the man who makes it look easy to you4 ,do not for a moment be deceived into thinking that it is really easy4 ,the consequences of thinking so may contain1 not only disasters of the most awkward kind1 but death also4 ,begin at the very beginning1 with the harnessing and putting to of your horses4 ,depend only upon a good and trustworthy builder for your vehicle4 ,if you buy a second-hand one1 choose it with a friend who knows what such a vehicle should be1 and then have it gone over thoroughly by your carriage builder4 ,of the harnessing of the horses we have already written4 ,it needs to be added1 that in harnessing four all the details of fit and stoutness of leather and proper bitting should be more than ever looked after4 ,before your horses are brought out have the pole in its place and the lead-bars hung on the pole-hook4 ,have a look yourself to see that the pole-pin is securely in its place4 ,bring out your wheelers1 hook the pole-chains to the kidney-link ring1 giving ample room to back them so that the traces may be put over the roller-bolts1--outside trace first1 then the inside one1--then tighten the pole-chains by passing the hook through the kidney-link ring from the inside out so that it will come out away from the pole4 ,the length of this chain must depend upon the good or bad roads you are proposing to drive over1 and upon other things already discussed 7,chapter ,,xiii474 ,when your horses are poled up1 they are drawn toward the pole1 and you will notice that the inside trace is therefore shorter than the outside trace4 ,this difference should be taken up by enlarging the inside roller-bolt by wrapping it1 never by punching holes in the trace1 and thus weakening it4 ,then fasten the coupling-reins to their bits1 and fasten your reins over your off wheeler's pad-terret1 or let them be drawn through above the trace and tug-buckle from the front1 back4 ,then bring out your leaders and fasten their traces to their bars4 ,the leaders may be put to with their traces on their own bars2 with the traces crossed on the inside1 each horse working off his mate's bar2 with the traces crossed1 but each horse working off his own bar4 ,the first is best for well-trained1 evenly working horses4 ,the second is advocated by those who consider that this method makes the work more even1 and keeps the lazy horse up to his work4 ,the third is mainly to keep the leaders more together4 ,the bars of the leaders may be fastened together with a strap for the same reason4 ,never use a chain for this purpose as1 in case of a leg over the trace or any similar accident1 a chain cannot be cut and promptly undone4 ,this lapping of the traces is a matter each man should work out for himself1 after noticing how his particular leaders go most comfortably4 ,this lapping of the traces also keeps the traces away from the horses' sides1 and in hot or muddy weather this is a consideration4 ,buckle your coupling-reins to the bits1 run them through their terrets1 and1 together with the wheel-reins1 push them through from in front above the trace and tug-buckle of the off leader4 ,put up your thong1 lay the whip over the wheelers' backs1 and as a precaution push the end of it between the back-strap4 ,if your whip is in the socket1 it is in your way in getting up1 it may be broken by your passengers1 or it may be played with by an ignorant passenger and dropped1 or at any rate1 the thong loosened4 ,if the whip is placed across the toe-board no one can mount to the box-seat while it is there4 ,if you are driving alone and studying your team1 the whip is better on the toe-board1 where it is not easily displaced and does not annoy the wheelers2 otherwise the best place is across the backs of the wheelers4 ,a piece of steel covered with leather on the lead-reins 7,fownes of ,london used ivory7 just in front of the coupling-buckle prevents these slipping through the lead-terrets1 as may easily happen if either horse plunges or hangs back4 ,if no bearing-reins are used1 the throat-latches should be snug1 since they alone hold the bridle on the horse's head4 ,in breaking in a team1 bearing-reins properly adjusted do no harm and are a safeguard4 ,if necessary1 start with them very loose and shorten them when the horse is warmed up1 and his neck muscles are more pliable4 ,if the bearing-reins are fastened up before the start1 there will be backing1 rearing1 and jibbing1 all of which may be obviated by tightening the bearing-reins after the start4 ,if you are to drive over good level roads1 your wheelers may be placed as near the coach as will enable them to go at a good gait without hitting the splinter-bar or wheels4 ,the length of wheel-traces should be about ninety-seven inches1 of the lead-traces about ninety inches4 ,with smaller horses the traces are1 of course1 proportionately shorter4 ,a long drawn out team is hard on the arm and hand1 not so easily manuvred1 and1 being farther from their work and from you1 not so likely to be easily handled4 ,on ,western roads in this country1 the four horses are put much farther from the coach and from one another1 and given plenty of leeway as to traces and pole-chains4 ,driving over their heavy1 rough roads necessitates this4 ,if one of our compactly harnessed teams attempted to work over their roads1 the coach1 passengers1 and horses' shoulders would be badly racked4 ,indeed1 it is to be doubted whether closely harnessed horses would not pull one another down4 ,the experienced coachman from the ,east does not sneer at the long drawn out teams in the ,west2 nor does the ,westerner sneer at the closely coupled teams of the ,east4 ,each is adapted to do its own work4 ,it is only the neophyte who sneers here or elsewhere1 and a stupid neophyte at that2 for to sneer at ignorance is stupid1 and to sneer at stupidity1 ignorant4 ,now that you have your horses harnessed to your vehicle1 have another look round1 for at this business a quiet start is more than half the battle1 and it is worth while to see to it that you may get away without at once stopping1 to arrange something about the harness that has been neglected4 ,now step back to the off wheeler's quarter1 and with the right hand take hold of the leaders' reins and place them in the left hand where they belong1 with the forefinger between them2 then take the wheelers' reins1 and place them in the left hand with the middle finger between them4 ,you will then have3 near leader's rein over forefinger1 off leader's rein under forefinger and on top of the near wheeler's rein2 the near wheeler's rein over the middle finger1 and under the off leader's rein1 and the off wheeler's rein under the middle finger4 ,then with your right hand pull out twelve to eighteen inches of both off reins2 see that the buckles of the wheel-reins and the stitchings of the lead-reins are at an even distance from the left hand1 so that when you are seated on the box the reins will be level4 ,it saves time1 trouble1 and embarrassment to be able to do this quickly and accurately4 ,if you are beginning or out of practice1 it is well to get up and down with the reins until they are the proper length in your hand4 ,then put the reins in the right hand exactly as they were in the left 7or one finger lower down1 so that the forefinger is free to hold on in getting up2 this is advised by some coachmen1 but is not necessary71 throw the ends of the reins over your right arm1 take your whip in your right hand1 and you are ready to mount4 ,to do this1 put your left foot on the hub of the wheel1 right foot on the roller-bolt1 left foot on the step1 and right foot on the foot-board1 using your left hand to hold on with and leaving the right hanging down4 ,sit down at once1 for1 having climbed so high1 it would be humiliating to tumble off if a horse started4 ,then put the reins back in the left hand1 where you should find them all of about the proper length 7,plate ,,xxxii474 ,if they are not1 get them level without touching the mouths of the horses4 ,in taking the reins from their place to put them in the hand1 it is usual to drop the ends on the ground4 ,if1 however1 you are on a muddy street or wet pavement1 put the ends of the reins over the little finger of the right hand1 which will keep them out of the mud and wet while you are arranging them in your hand to mount4 ,another way of taking up the reins is1 instead of drawing out the two off reins before mounting1 to allow the two off reins to run through the fingers as you mount to the box1 which has1 to be sure1 the advantage of keeping control of all four horses from the moment you take up the reins4 ,it is rare that a man drives four without men at his horses' heads when he gets up1 and for the beginner1 at any rate1 the first-mentioned method is the simpler of the two4 ,start quietly4 ,feel your horses' mouths gently as a reminder that something is coming1 give the word1 let them have sufficient rein1 let the wheelers into their collars first1 and go off quietly at a walk4 ,if you are driving a green team1 or a mean team1 or a team you are making1 always start from the stable yourself4 ,even if your coachman is a better coachman than you are1 it is best to get away with them yourself1 and to keep them amenable from the start4 ,although it is advised here to let the wheelers start the coach1 the ideal way is to let all four horses feel their traces at the same moment2 but it is only under ideal circumstances and with an ideal team that all four horses will dip into their collars at the same instant1 and walk off with the coach1 without so much as a flurry or a shake of the head at starting4 ,such horses are too good to be true1 and need very little driving4 ,let the rugs or quarter-blankets be taken off quietly1 not grabbed off as a sort of get-up signal1 and if your horses are at all inclined to waver1 let the grooms run ahead a few steps so that the horses can see them and be tempted to go on with them1 and then1 the team fairly started1 they can drop back and take their places on the coach4 ,let them have their heads at the start and get them in hand after they are all in the traces4 ,by checking a horse suddenly at the start1 with a too tight rein1 or jabbing a leader under the tail with the pole1 or1 worst of all1 forgetting to take the brake off and jerking the whole team back on their haunches at the start1 you may1 you will indeed1 so irritate your horses that it will take your gentlest and most skilful behavior to get them right and going pleasantly4 ,the writer knows one mare at least who behaves perfectly if everything goes smoothly at the start1 but if she is upset at the start1 the whole drive is spoilt by her behavior2 nor is she appeased till safely back in the stable4 ,so1 by all means1 use every endeavor1 every artifice even1 to get a good start4 ,as was duly emphasized in ,chapter ,,xiii41 by far the greater part of the comfort and skill in driving depends upon the give and take of the left hand from the wrist1 or with a slight movement forward or backward of the hand itself4 ,turning the left hand up or down with a movement to the right or left will1 if your horses are well in hand1 guide them to the right or left4 ,in starting1 you are usually on one side or the other of the road4 ,to bring your horses over1 two small points to the left with the near lead-rein under the thumb1 the near wheel-rein under the forefinger2 or if to the right1 the off lead-rein under the forefinger and the off wheel-rein under the middle finger will give the direction1 and1 once they are where you want them1 the reins slip out1 and you have had the right hand free to be used if necessary4 ,or1 turning the left hand down with the knuckles toward the horses1 bringing the hand at the same time back to the left hip1 will take them to the right2 while turning the left over1 the knuckles toward you1 and the hand moved toward the body1 will turn them to the left4 ,this movement of the left hand up or down shortens or lengthens the near lead-rein4 ,there is an objection to moving the left hand about much1 and turns to the left and right are best made by points or loops4 ,before turning anywhere1 always have your leaders well in hand4 ,if they have hold of the pole-end1 the wheelers are helpless to turn the coach4 ,to turn to the left1 take the near lead-rein with the three lower fingers of the right hand and draw it back1 catching it under the left thumb1 holding it fast till your team has responded 7see ,plate ,,xxxii474 ,to turn to the right1 do the same thing with your off lead-rein1 holding it either under the thumb or under the forefinger of the left hand 7see ,plate ,,xxxii474 ,under the forefinger is better1 since the rein is then in its proper place to run out1 just as in the former case under the thumb is better for the same reason4 ,never pull a rein off to the side1 but always straight back toward you1 so that the hands may never get too far away from one another4 ,do not spoil your point by letting the left hand go forward to meet it1 but bring the point back with the right hand1 keeping the left hand in its place4 ,as soon as horses go much together as four1 they get to know the signals of the reins and sometimes respond too quickly4 ,this is especially so of the wheel horses4 ,as soon as they feel the lead-rein moving in their head terret1 they begin to turn toward it4 ,in going round corners this results in the wheelers going round too quickly1 and perhaps running the coach on the curb or against a post or pillar4 ,an easy way to avoid this is by making an opposition point so called4 ,before giving the office to your near leader1 and making the point with your near lead-rein to turn to the left1 take up the off-wheel rein and hold it over the forefinger of the left hand 7,plate ,,xxxii471 then make your point1 and with one hand your leader is going round to the left1 your wheelers are kept away from the corner1 and you have your right hand to use on the reins1 or with the whip to urge the wheelers round4 ,in turning to the right1 the same thing may be done by taking the near wheeler's rein and passing it over the thumb of the left hand1 then point to the right 7,plate ,,xxxii471 and again you have your whole team in one hand and doing your bidding4 ,in turning a team off to the left1 in order to pass another vehicle1 or in any case where the turn is a slight one and to be made quickly1 put the right hand on the two near reins with the middle finger between them1 and as you draw them toward you let the left hand advance4 ,place the right hand on the two off reins with the fourth finger between them1 and repeat the same manuvre to go to the right4 ,put the right hand well in advance of the left in doing this1 and pull directly toward you1 otherwise you will pull the reins out of the left hand and spoil the whole movement by contradictory instructions to the horses' mouths4 ,in pulling up to the left1 you may place both near-reins well over the thumb1 and then use the right hand as usual in stopping2 this will bring your team over1 and stop them at the same time 7,plate ,,xxxii474 ,it is obvious that all these oppositions may be made by using the right hand on the reins4 ,in most road driving this is done4 ,there are from time to time turns to be made round sharp corners1 into gateways1 through narrow streets1 coming down hill1 or with a dip down hill immediately after turning a corner1 when the right hand is imperatively needed4 ,it is at such times that to know how to make these points and their opposition is very useful4 ,the best way1 therefore1 is in times of peace to prepare for war by using these points and oppositions frequently where they can be made easily and without looking at the hands2 then when you really need them you know how without fumbling and flurrying to do what is necessary4 ,when you wish to shorten your lead-reins1 take them clean out of the left hand1 bring them back the required length1 and replace them4 ,it is better and safer1 however1 so far as possible1 to push these1 and other reins when possible1 back from behind4 ,to shorten the wheel-reins1 push them back one at a time--an awkward way--or pull them both through from behind4 ,the near wheel-rein1 being the most awkward rein to get at1 should be shortened by pulling it from behind4 ,to shorten any other of the three separately1 take it in the lower fingers of the right hand and push it back the required distance4 ,to shorten all the reins1 put the right hand on all four reins1 little and fourth fingers over both off reins1 middle finger between1 and forefinger and thumb over the near reins1 and push them back a little at a time4 ,as has been said before1 if in a hurry pull all four reins back from behind4 ,as the two reins together1 the off-lead and near-wheel1 are the most troublesome to the beginner1 it is well to remember that if your leaders are straggling to the left and your wheelers to the right1 pushing these two centre reins back a little will put things straight4 ,for the opposite trouble1 pulling them forward a little will solve the problem4 ,the leaders of a team are there to help over heavy roads and in going up hill2 but as they have no pole to support them1 their position is the more tiring one1 and they should be cared for accordingly and not allowed to pull all the time4 ,in crossing gutters or hollow places1 be particularly careful to have your leaders in hand1 otherwise if they are straining on the pole1 the lift and jerk may break it4 ,this is not an uncommon accident1 and a very awkward one4 ,remember that because you are driving four horses you have no peculiar rights and privileges over other ,american citizens1 though they be driving only one horse or a donkey4 ,the courtesy of the road will usually give the heavy load a chance1 but you can only ask1 you may not demand it4 ,on a public coach1 making time and carrying passengers for fare1 the horn is both a safeguard and a proper signal2 but the tooting of a horn on all occasions in park1 village1 and ordinary road driving is almost an impertinence4 ,cessante ratione1 cessat et ipsa lex4 ,if you must have a horn for protection1 drive up and down your own back road until that necessity is passed4 ,in stopping1 get ready in advance and slow down gradually4 ,get your leaders back a little1 put your right hand on the reins as already described1 lift the left hand1 push the right toward you1 and come to a stop with the horses as nearly as possible in their bits and collars ready to start again 7,plate ,,xxxii474 ,the man who can stop and start without a jerk is a good workman already4 ,before getting down1 put on your brake1 always quietly1 then shift the reins into the right hand with the whip1 step down1 put the reins into the tug-bearer as they were when you took them out1 lay your whip across the backs of the horses1 and your task is done4 ,if there is to be a change of horses1 or you are in your own stable yard at the end of the journey1 have your reins unbuckled1 let the leaders' reins be pulled through your hands by the grooms1 then throw down the wheel-reins1 one on either side1 or1 as circumstances of space demand1 retain the wheel-reins1 and drive your coach where it is to stand by the wheelers alone1 after the leaders are out4 ,above all things1 do nothing in a hurry2 remember that you are captain of the ship and should not leave it until everything is shipshape and in order4 ,where you have but one man at your service1 he should stand at the heads of the wheelers where he can hold them by their heads and the leaders by their reins4 ,never attempt to hold or to stop a team by running to the heads of the leaders4 ,they cannot stop if they would1 with a coach and the two wheelers pushing them from behind4 ,get to the heads of the wheelers and stop them1 and thus1 if it is not too late to do it at all1 stop the whole four4 ,keeping four horses up to their work1 or well in hand1 does not mean that they should be all1 all the time1 tugging at their traces4 ,they should be kept up to their bits all the time1 otherwise you have no control over them and no way of signifying your wishes to them4 ,if you have fenced1 you know how absolutely essential it is to keep in constant touch with your opponent's sword4 ,you feel him by feeling his sword4 ,i have seen a skilful ,french officer fence blindfolded with an inferior opponent1 he demanding only that he should be allowed to feel his opponent's weapon at all times1 except when he thrust1 or parried4 ,he could apparently divine what was coming by the feel of his opponent's rapier on his own4 ,the feel of the bit in the horse's mouth is as important4 ,you can guess what the horse intends to do1 and the horse knows what you wish him to do4 ,if the bit is not on his bars with a gentle pressure all the time you are driving him1 you are cut off from any quick connection with him4 ,this is what it means to have your team in hand1 that is1 to be in constant communication with your horses' mouths4 ,most beginners1 owing to the weight of reins in their hands1 and because their leaders are so far away1 either lug on the reins1 mistaking this for firmness1 or they allow the reins to dangle4 ,you should feel each horse's mouth lightly1 but all the time4 ,the lugging soon makes a puller2 while the latter carelessness produces what is known as a nigger-broke horse1 or one that is lazy and never quickly obedient to the bit4 ,if you are getting together a team for yourself and by yourself1 therefore1 it is far better to drive each horse single until you know his mouth1 and then in pairs until you are quite familiar with the way they like to go best as to bits1 coupling-reins1 and the like4 ,there are two classes of people who have accidents3 the beginners who are rash1 and the old hands who are over-confident1 and hence careless4 ,when your driving has gone smoothly for some time you take less pains1 a mistake is made1 and trouble follows4 ,but even if carelessness does not result actually in accident1 remember that it is bad for the horses not to be kept strictly up to the mark whenever they are driven4 ,the horses become slovenly in their work all too quickly1 if you are careless in yours4 ,,rules ,,for ,,judging ,,park ,,drags ,,and ,,rules ,,for ,,judging ,,park ,,drags ,,and ,,road-,,coaches1 ,,as ,,adopted ,,by ,,the ,,road-,,coaches1 ,,as ,,adopted ,,by ,,the ,,coaching ,,club ,,coaching ,,club ,the drag should have a perch and be,the road-coach should be built less heavy than a road-coach and stronger than a park drag1 more highly finished1 with crest orespecially as to the under-carriage monogram on the door panels or hindand axles1 which latter should not boot1 or foot-board4 measure less than two inches in diameter4 ,the axles may be either mail or ,the axles may be either mail or collinges 7not imitation74 collinges 7not imitation74 ,the hind seat should be supported ,the hind seat is usually supported by curved iron braces1 and be of a by solid wooden risers1 with proper width for two grooms1 wooden curtain1 but the supports without lazy-back4 may be of curved iron1 as in a park drag1 in which case a stationary leather curtain is used4 ,its seat should be wide enough for at least two beside the guard1 who should occupy the near side with an extra cushion4 ,he should have a strap to take hold of when standing to sound the horn4 ,the lazy-backs on the roof seats ,the lazy-backs of the box-seat1 should be turned down when not in hind seat1 and roof seats should be4 use4 stationary ,the under side of the foot-board1 ,the under side of the foot-board1 together with the rises1 should be together with the risers of the box of the same color as the and rumble1 should be of the same under-carriage4 color as the under-carriage4 ,the body of the drag and the panel ,the body of the coach and the panel of the hind boot should correspond of the hind boot should also in color4 correspond in color4 ,the door of the hind boot should be,the door on the hind boot to be hinged at the bottom1 that it may hinged on the off side to enable be used as a table when open4 the guard to open it from the near hind step when the coach is in motion4 ,the skid and safety-hook 7if ,the skid and safety-hook must be carried7 should be hung on the off hung on the off side in countries side4 in in which it is customary to drive on the off side of the roadway1 for the skid should be on the outside wheel or the coach will slide towards the ditch4 ,it is customary to trim the outside,the trimming of the outside seats seats in either pigskinor cloth1 should be of carpet or any other and the inside of the drag in suitable material1 not leather4 ,the morocco or cloth4 inside of the coach is usually finished in hard wood or leather4 ,the coachman's driving apron1 when ,the coachman's driving apron1 when not in use1 should be folded on thenot in use1 should be folded on the driving cushion1 outside out4 driving cushion1 outside out4 ,passengers' aprons1 if carried1 to be folded and placed on the front inside seat4 ,a watch and case are not essential1,a foot-board watch with case should nor is the pocket in the driving be provided4 ,the driving cushion cushion4 should have a pocket on the near side4 ,there should be no luggage rails1 ,the iron rails on the roof1 between or straps on the roofbetween the the front and back seats1 should seats4 have a lattice or network of leather straps to prevent small luggage1 coats1 rugs1 etc41 placed on the roof1 from falling off4 ,inside1 the drag should have3-- ,inside1 the coach should have3-- ,hat straps fastened to the roof4 ,hat straps fastened to the roof4 ,pockets on the doors4 ,leather pockets at the sides or ,places over the front or back on the doors4 seats where the lamps may ,an extra jointed whip4 be hung when not in use4 ,an extra jointed whip4 ,the umbrella basket when carried to,the basket shall be hung on the be hung on the near side4 near side and in front of the guard's seat4 ,the horn should be placed in the basket with its mouthpiece up4 ,lamps off4--,lamps inside coach4 ,side lamps in place and ready for use4 ,two extra lead bars1 consisting of ,two extra lead bars1 consisting of a main and side bar1 fastened to a main and side bar1 fastened to the back of the hind seat with the back of the hind seat with straps4 ,main bar above4 straps4 ,main bar above4 ,lead bars put on with screw-heads ,lead bars put on with screw-heads of furniture up4 of furniture up4 ,the following articles to be neatly,the following articles to be neatly stowed inside the front boot3-- stowed in a convenient part of the ,a small kit of tools4 coach3-- ,an extra lead and wheel trace4 ,a wheel jack4 ,a rein splicer or two double ,a chain trace4 buckles of different sizes4 ,an extra bit4 ,extra hame straps4 ,extra hame straps4 ,extra lead trace4 ,a bearing-rein4 ,a rein splicer1 or two double buckles of different sizes4 ,a kit of tools1 comprising a wrench1 hammer1 cold chisel1 coil of wire1 punch1 hoof-pick1 and knife4 ,two extra large rings for kidney-links1 or a pair of pole pieces4 ,loin-cloths for team and the ,the guard should be appropriately necessary waterproof aprons should dressed and should have a way-bill be carried in a convenient and pouch with a watch fitted on one accessible part of the drag4 side and a place provided for the key of the hind boot4 ,it is usual for a park drag to be fitted with luncheon boxes1 wine racks1 etc41 also a box on the roof called an imperial4 ,this latter is never carried except when going to the races or a luncheon4 ,pole-chains should be burnished and,pole-chains should be burnished or have spring-hooks4 ,the chains black1 but pole head and chains should be of a length which will must be alike4 ,hooks should have admit of snapping both hooks into india-rubberrings1 not the pole headring4 ,if too short1 spring-hooks4 one end should be hooked in the pole headring and the other in a ,chains with single hooks should be link4 ,if too long1 one end should put on pole-head from inside out1 be snapped in the pole headring1 then passed through the and the other brought through said kidney-link1 and hooked ring 7from the outside in7 and into one of the links of the snapped in a link4 chains4 ,cruppers with buckles on all horses,cruppers on wheelers but not preferred4 necessarily on leaders1 unless bearing-reins are used4 ,trace bearers on the leaders from the hames to the tug buckles are permissible4 ,loin straps and trace bearers are ,no loin straps4 permissible4 ,face pieces 7drops74 ,face pieces 7optional74 ,martingale around the collars of ,martingale around the collar and wheelers and not through not through kidney-link alone4 kidney-link alone4 ,martingales on all horses4 ,no martingales on leaders2 kidney-link rings on leaders4 ,mountings of coach harness and the ,mountings1 preferably of brass1 but buttons on servants' liveries at least all of the same metal should be of the same metal4 throughout4 ,wheel traces with metal loop ends1 ,wheel traces with ,french loop or not chains4 chain ends4 ,chain put on roller bolt with chain out and ring in4 ,wheelers' inside traces shorter ,wheelers' inside traces shorter than outside traces1 unless the than outside traces1 unless the inside roller bolt is enlarged to inside roller bolt is enlarged to give the same result4 give the same result4 ,lead traces straight or lapped1 not,lead traces lapped1 crossed1 or crossed4 straight4 ,eyes on ends of hames through which,hook ends to hames4 the kidney-links pass4 ,plain kidney-links4 ,chain and short kidney-links or all ,no kidney-link rings on leaders4 chain4 ,solid draught eyes on hames4 ,ring draught eyes on hames4 ,clip inside of trace leather1 and ,one or more bearing-reins are showing rivet heads only4 optional4 ,full bearing-reins with bit and ,cruppers with or without buckles4 bridoon4 ,martingale back strap4 ,buxton bits preferred4 ,single point strap to tug buckle4 ,metal or ribbon fronts to bridles4 ,metal or leather fronts to bridles4 ,if ribbon1 the color should match ,if leather1 the color to match the the livery waistcoats4 color of the coach4 ,the crest or monogram should be on ,a crest or monogram is not the rosettes1 face pieces1 winkers1generally used in road work1 but pads and martingale flaps4 instead lead bars or a special ,ribbon or colored rosettes are device in brass is put on the inappropriate4 winkers and rosettes4 ,hame straps put on with points ,hame straps put on with points inside2 i4e4 to the off side inside2 i4e4 to the off side on the near horse and the near sideon the near horse and the near side on the off horse4 on the off horse4 ,reins of single brown leather4 ,reins of single brown leather4 ,draught-reins sewed in one piece ,draught-reins sewed in one piece with end buckles only4 with end buckles only4 ,lead traces with screw-heads of the,traces with screw-heads of the cock-eyes up4 cock-eyes and chain ends up4 ,all parts of the harness should be ,all straps preferably of single double and neatly stitched4 leather4 ,collars to be of black patent ,collars may be of patent1 plain leather1 shaped to the neck4 black1 or brown leather2 straight1 thick1 and full padded4 ,the hames bent to fit the collar ,the hames straight to fit the accurately4 collar4 ,harness black4--,all straps should ,harness black or brown4 be of proper length1 but not too short4 ,when the owner or his representative drives1 the stable shutters should be down2 otherwise up4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxxiii4--,,pony ,,tandem ,,chapter ,,xv ,,the ,,tandem ,one horse driven in front of the other gave a ,university wag the opportunity to nickname two horses so driven a tandem1 from the ,latin word meaning at length1 as applied to time4 ,this joke has crystallized into a familiar ,english word1 and many tandem drivers to-day include all the ,latin in their vocabulary in this form of exercise4 ,the fundamental principles of tandem driving are much the same as four-in-hand driving1 except that the horses turn more quickly1 and with less pressure on the reins1 especially in the case of the leader4 ,the reins1 too1 are closer together in the hand1 making the fingering more difficult1 and the handling of a spirited leader is perhaps as difficult and nice a task as any form of driving affords4 ,although the chief authority for this chapter1 ,t4 ,suffern ,tailer1 ,esq41 late the president of the ,new ,york ,tandem ,club1 decries the use of anything but traces for the leader1--traces fastened to the traces of the wheeler1--it is fair to the reader to describe another method of harnessing4 ,this method consists of having two swingle-bars1 one #b feet #f inches in length1 the other about #b feet in length4 ,the first has a hook in front and a chain at the back1 about #a foot in length4 ,this chain is hooked to a ring at the bottom of the wheeler's hames1 and at the end are two short traces fastening to the wheeler's traces by two rings1 or loops1 under the trace-buckles4 ,the second bar is attached by an eyelet to the hook of the first bar2 to this1 of course1 are attached the leader's traces in the usual manner4 ,advocates of this way of harnessing claim that by this method the leader's traces may be made almost as short as those of the wheeler1 and that there is far less danger--none1 indeed--of a leader getting his legs over a trace4 ,in tandem harness there should be as little harness as possible1 even breeching omitted1 except in a very hilly country4 ,one of the advantages of this form of driving sport is that1 even with a small stable and few horses1 one may drive tandem without any great extra outlay4 ,the wheeler's harness may be an ordinary set of single harness1 with double terrets in the pad1 and terrets above the blinkers1 to carry the leader's reins4 ,the leader's harness may be the same1 with a very light pad1 since the pad in the leader's case only carries the traces4 ,the traces of the leader have spring-hooks which are fastened to the brass rings1 or loops1 under the wheeler's trace-buckles4 ,on the leader's pad are two leather loops to carry the traces1 and over the leader's loins1 a bearing strap1 just long enough to keep the traces level4 ,the reins should be light1 strong1 and of the same size1 and suited to the size of the coachman's hands4 ,it is hardly necessary to say that to fasten the leader's traces to the ends of the shafts is suicidally dangerous2 but as it is sometimes done the warning is needed4 ,the writer's own experience in driving tandem has been confined mostly to a pony tandem1 a form of amusement strongly recommended by ,lady ,gorgiana ,curzon in the ,badminton volume on ,driving4 ,two ponies1 a stocky1 short-legged pony #ad4b in the wheel1 and a breedier specimen of the same height in the lead1 make a pair that bowl along at a good rate1 are light in hand1 and give younger members of the family capital practice in the handling of four reins in one hand4 ,if you have a ,phidippides in the family1 by all means put him to work at tandem driving4 ,it is good for his courage1 and may be good for his conceit 7,plate ,,xxxiii474 ,every one who has driven tandem much1 and almost every one who has not driven tandem at all1 agree3 the first that tandem driving is excellent sport1 and not dangerous2 the latter that it is a foolish waste of equine energy1 and very dangerous4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxxiv4--,,tandem ,,dog-,,cart ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxxv4--,,high ,,and ,,dangerous ,,cocking-,,cart ,all forms of driving are dangerous1 from piloting ,dobbin in a farm-wagon1 to driving a drag to a race meeting1 if the coachman is ignorant1 careless1 and nervous4 ,even ,dobbin may go down on his knees1 or shy1 and run away1 if he is not looked after4 ,but tandem driving is no more dangerous than other forms of driving1 if harness1 cart1 and horses are suited to the sport1 and the coachman is forever vigilant4 ,there is no doubt but that most horses enjoy going this way1 and the change is good for them1 and it is excellent practice2 none better1 indeed1 for their owner4 ,in putting two horses together in this fashion the traces of the leader may be as short as possible1 say three feet from the nose of the wheeler to the croup of the leader1 when the traces are taut4 ,the leader1 if a breedy-looking animal1 with good neck and shoulders1 may wear to advantage a breast collar1 instead of a neck collar4 ,he may1 indeed1 be with propriety as lightly harnessed as possible4 ,the origin of the tandem was a convenient way of taking a hunter to cover by putting him in the lead of a dog-cart1 with his saddle and bridle carried along in the cart4 ,even to this day this pedigree of the tandem marks out the proper proportions and proper qualities for both wheeler and leader4 ,the leader may thus be driven appropriately in a ring snaffle1 although probably the best bits are the ,liverpool or ,elbow bits with the not-to-be-forgotten proviso that the wheeler's bit should have a bar across the bottom of it to prevent the wheeler catching the leader's rein under the end of the cheek-piece of his bit--a trick one of the writer's ponies soon learned1 and was much mystified for days to find that the trick would not come off1 after a bar had been added to the bottom of her bit4 ,if the wheeler indulges in much shaking about of his head1 he should have both a light bearing-rein and a martingale4 ,the leader ought to be the type of horse which needs neither of these fixtures4 ,the whip may be lighter than the coach-whip1 and #e feet long for the stick1 and #h feet #f inches for the lash1 if you are driving ponies2 #b feet longer in the lash if driving full-sized horses4 ,before attempting a tandem with any horses you happen to have in the stable1 it is well to do a little training of the one you propose to use as leader4 ,with a pair of long reins you should drive him with nothing behind him1 so that he may become accustomed to moving along with no weight on his collar4 ,let the reins touch his quarters so that he may become accustomed to the loose traces in which he will go later4 ,some horses take to this way of going like ducks to water1 and make no objections and few mistakes from the beginning2 but it is best1 in any case1 to do a little training before they are put together in what must be a novel way to them4 ,as the pressure should be less1 and the loops taken smaller1 in tandem driving1 much of the turning may be done by the turn of the wrist and the moving of the hand from left to right1 as described in the chapter on driving one horse4 ,in turning1 the points to right and left should be small1 and care taken to keep your wheeler from rushing his corners1 as he may so easily do with a two-wheeled trap behind him4 ,if your leader is going off to the left too much and your wheeler to the right1 push your two centre reins back a little1 and this will straighten them out2 or if the contrary is the case1 and your leader is going to the right and your wheeler to the left1 pull the two centre reins out a bit4 ,the two centre reins are1 the upper one1 your off lead-rein1 the lower one1 your near wheel-rein4 ,it is more than ever necessary that the left hand should be kept in its place1 and the reins held firmly in their place1 otherwise your team will never be straight for long at a time4 ,the left hand should be held as in driving four4 ,when the right hand is used on all the reins1 the little and third fingers go over the two off side reins1 the middle finger over the near wheel-rein1 and the first finger over the near lead-rein1 thus giving the right hand control over each and all of the reins4 ,the two off side reins may be kept together1 for in tandem driving it is only necessary to make points when turning practically at right angles4 ,the horses should follow one another without making a break between your leader and wheeler by having the leader at right angles to the wheeler when making a turn4 ,too large a loop taken with only one rein is very apt to bring your leader around too fast and too far4 ,never under any circumstances have your lead traces taut when making a turn1 as you may thus pull your wheeler off his feet1 and in any case1 when the lead traces are taut1 it is your leader1 and not you1 who is in control4 ,though driving tandem is similar in the manipulation of the reins to driving four1 it is on a miniature scale4 ,everything must be done more gently1 more quietly1 more quickly1 and all loops or points need only be of the smallest4 ,the wheeler should start and stop the cart1 and once they are going1 the wheeler should follow directly behind the leader4 ,the reins in a tandem come into the hand much closer together than in the case of a four1 where the horses1 being spread out1 the reins are accordingly apart4 ,this makes the handling of tandem reins quickly1 difficult4 ,when wishing to use the right hand1 if the left be pushed forward slightly it gives the right hand a chance to place itself correctly on the reins1 as the reins are thus pushed slightly apart4 ,in tandem driving it is of supreme importance to be ready in advance4 ,whether stopping1 starting1 turning1 increasing1 or slacking your pace1 your right hand should not be fumbling to get itself on the right reins1 but should be there1 and ready1 before it is required4 ,a quick1 nervous leader can turn1 stop1 start1 and back like a flash4 ,if you are not ready for him before he gets going1 no mortal is quick enough to catch him afterwards4 ,the damage is done1 and your horses in a tangle while you are still groping with your right hand for the proper reins4 ,in passing other vehicles1 or any object that you think may cause your leader to shy1 always have a small loop of that side rein under your thumb1 and your right hand ready to put on the brakes on whichever rein requires it1 instantly1 before either horse can make much of a dtour4 ,a horse met at once with a rebuke is half persuaded already to come to terms4 ,the cart1 if ponies are driven1 should not be too light nor too low4 ,with wheels #d feet #i or #aj inches in diameter1 the coachman's seat will be about #e feet #d from the ground4 ,the wider the cart1 up to #f feet wide inside1 the better1 both for the comfort of the passengers1 and because a broad track lessens the danger of upsetting4 ,the body of the cart should be set as low on the axles as possible4 ,a cart with bent shafts pivoted on the front part of the cart1 and adjustable behind1 with wheels five feet high1 and track five feet wide1 will accommodate anything1 from #ad4b to #af hands1 and makes1 if lightly built1 a good all-round two-wheel cart for all sorts of purposes4 ,a slant of from three to four inches for the driving cushion makes a comfortable angle for the seat4 ,if necessary1 have a movable foot-rest1 but on no account a rail for your feet4 ,see1 on this subject1 remarks in the chapter on driving one horse4 ,these descriptions and requirements do not purport to guide one in setting up a tandem for show purposes4 ,this branch of the subject is dealt with completely1 and with experienced competency1 by ,mr4 ,tailer in the next chapter4 ,but tandem driving is too good a sport to be confined to the show ring4 ,any enterprising horse owner may put to a tandem out of his own stable without adding much to the expense of his stable1 while adding greatly to the variety of sport to be got out of his establishment4 ,,chapter ,,xvi ,,driving ,,tandem1 ,,by ,t4 ,,suffern ,,tailer1 ,,esq4 ,not every path extends the same1 ,but various are the roads to fame2 ,with different eye the same pursuits we view1 ,nor all one wish with equal zeal pursue4 ,it is arranged1 no doubt wisely1 that happiness1 which is the universal aim of mankind1 may be pursued by numerous roads1 and that they who seek it on wheels may choose from a variety of conveyances4 ,some press forward to the goal astride the bicycle1 or in the automobile1 for which vehicles it may be claimed that at any rate they don't cost much to feed2 others drive furiously in a coffin-shaped box within four spider wheels2 and yet others prefer1-- ,to dash along with four-in-hand1 while others drive at random1 ,in whiskey1 buggy1 gig or dog-cart1 curricle or tandem4 ,according the right of way to this procession1 ,i at length claim the privilege to take my pleasure in driving a tandem4 ,one of the first requisites of this is nerve1--an indispensable requisite1 in fact4 ,it is the very spice of danger that makes this form of driving exciting2 but for a man who has nerve1 and acquires the proper amount of skill1 there is no more danger in driving a tandem than any other equipage in vogue4 ,fewer accidents befall experienced tandem drivers than those who drive any local style of turnout4 ,for example1 a man in a road wagon of the conventional style1 with four wheels confining him in a narrow box1 when his horse bolts has no means whatsoever of saving himself2 whereas1 in a dog-cart1 although when the wheeler goes down he may get a father and mother of a fall1 he does not part company with the vehicle4 ,it seems to be established that the most competent authority on a subject is one who has much theoretical1 and little practical1 knowledge of it4 ,for a tandem set up on theories alone1 the horses must be a pair perfectly matched in figure1 height1 color1 and action2 either1 therefore1 fit to change places with1 and to do the work of1 the other4 ,experienced tandem drivers whose opinions are entitled to consideration dissent decidedly from this view4 ,they maintain that if the wheeler1 that holds the entire weight on descending1 and performs nearly all the work1 on level ground1 for which great strength and straight action are necessary1 is the standard of the pair1 a leader patterned on this type will be too stout and too coarse4 ,if the leader1 on the other hand1 in quality1 figure1 and action is of the perfect type1 he will be too light1 and otherwise unsuited for the wheeler's place4 ,for tandem carts of standard weight1 the wheeler1 which is the chief factor or mainstay of the tandem1 should be #ae4c hands high1 with a well-cut head1 deep1 sloping shoulders1 broad chest1 short1 straight back1 wide hips1 and strong quarters on short1 strong legs4 ,to prevent angles in1 and to afford direct draught of the driving-reins1 the head should be carried straight and naturally1--neither with nose poked out in front1 nor pointed high like a star-gazer's1 nor yet drawn in to the chest1--and he should be a fast and straight goer1 wasting none of his force in extravagant action4 ,a roadster good1 not straddling high1 ,nor shuffling low1 ,i find thee2 ,but stepping straight and cheerily ,thou leav'st the miles behind thee4 ,the leader1 whose duties seem to be ornamental chiefly1 he having nothing to carry but his harness1 little work to do except on heavy or hilly roads1 and nothing to hold down hill1 need have none of the qualities mentioned as indispensable requisites in the wheeler4 ,with a wheeler1 as before described1 #ae4c in height1 ,i should choose a leader #ae4b or #ae4b2 a half or three-quarters thoroughbred1 but with plenty of substance and bone4 ,he should have high style and high action all round2 rakish and gamy in form1 spirit1 and action2 the head lean and thoroughbred looking2 long1 clean neck1 with good crest2 head well up and nose a little out2 ears small1 sensitive1 and pointing to the front2 deep1 sloping shoulders1 high on the withers2 short1 straight back2 strong1 muscular loins2 straight hips2 strong in the hind quarters1 with muscles running well down4 ,to this should be added a light mouth1 well bitted1 responding with the whole body to the lightest touch of the rein2 the manners and grace of a gentleman2 good sense and coolness in tight places1 choosing often his own way with courage and confidence1--a rare and lovable thing in ,god's creation1 but such there be or may be made 7,plate ,,xxxvii474 ,of tandem carts there are various patterns1 but with the ,new ,york ,tandem ,club1 the members of which have been regarded as the best exponents1 in this country at least1 of the proper way of appointing a tandem1 as well as of driving it1 the ,whitechapel1 and the dog-cart represented in ,henderson's admirable picture entitled ,going to ,cover1 are the two designs in favor at the present time4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxxvi4--,,tandem ,,of ,,mr4 ,mc,c,a,n,d,l,e,s,s ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,xxxvii4--,,tandem ,,of ,,mr4 ,t4 ,,suffern ,,tailer ,hitherto the former has been the most popular1 doubtless owing to its being the pattern adopted by builders1 but it has since yielded place in the estimation of tandem drivers to the dog-cart described 7,plate ,,xxxiv472 though both are1 and will continue to be1 regarded as the highest types of their respective kinds4 ,the ,whitechapel cart derives its name from a locality in the ,east ,end of ,london1 not nearly as aristocratic as ,belgravia1 and was originally intended for some practical purpose1 such as hawking vegetables or milk1 for example4 ,it is rude in character1 and1 like the hansom cab1 not susceptible of much refinement1 and its primitive style is by no means improved by rails1 lamps1 and fittings of shafts1 in bright metals4 ,well horsed1 with appropriate harness1 aprons1 and a smart servant1 and driven by an accomplished whip1 made up in sympathy1 a ,whitechapel tandem is a most audacious varmint turnout4 ,the shafts of a ,whitechapel being straight1 in keeping with its sharp1 rakish lines1 and its wheels being of proper height1 a certain amount of open space between the body and carriage is unavoidable2 but that objectionable feature may be in some degree obviated1 by painting the latter in dark colors1 with black striping1 although primrose and vermilion on the under-carriage are colors very effective and pleasing4 ,a dog-cart of the design in the familiar print referred to1 as its name and the blinds in its panels imply1 was invented for the conveyance of dogs inside1 and is quite different in character1 as it is also superior in point of comfort1 to a ,whitechapel4 ,a slight bend in the shafts near their points is favorable to closer relations of the body and carriage parts than would be possible with straight shafts1 a desirable effect in carriage building termed shutting up the daylight4 ,the most effective colors for this cart are3 for the panels1 which are carved in imitation of basket1 a straw or cream1 and for the shafts1 wheels1 etc41 brightest vermilion striped with black4 ,cushions of dark colors seem most appropriate for a cart painted as described1 as they are in agreeable contrast2 but1 as they are affected by exposure to dust1 rain1 and the sun1 drab ,bedford cord is the material to be preferred4 ,the superior comfort of this dog-cart is attributable to the construction of its body1 which is practically a box1 open only at its ends on which1 the rails being bent outwards1 the greatest seating capacity is secured1 and to the facility for getting on and off1 which is of importance on long journeys1 when the duties of the groom1 who has been sent forward in advance1 are performed by the passenger occupying the hind seat4 ,the bright vermilion and clean straw colors of this cart are especially effective in competitions on the tan-bark by gaslight1 where dark colors show to less advantage4 ,the cocking-cart 7,plate ,,xxxv47 is another style1 which from its very smartness and dangerous height seems especially adapted to tandem driving1 and is best described as the front boot of a coach on two wheels4 ,a local tandem driver informs me that he once proposed giving his ,london builder an order for a cart of this kind1 but though the builder declared his readiness to undertake its construction on the lines familiar to him through his ancestors who built that sort of breakneck vehicle1 the customer was advised not to trust his life on such a tower upon wheels4 ,the cocking-cart was used for conveying game fowls to the cock-pit1 on arriving at which destination they were thought to be1 from the shaking up they had received on the journey1 in prime condition and temper for the coming battle4 ,except to be used exclusively for fancy tandem work1 ,i would not advise the purchase of a cocking-cart1 as1 for driving a single horse1 it is not to be compared with either a ,whitechapel or a dog-cart4 ,there are still other patterns of carts1 some of which are very good1 but ,i have described those ,i think best suited to tandem driving4 ,which of the many kinds of draughts for carts is most practical is a question giving rise to much discussion4 ,it must be admitted that1 whichever is used1 while it may be placed a little below the level of the hames-draughts1 it should never be fixed above that line4 ,an old tandem driver1 to whose judgment ,i defer1 informs me that1 having tried all sorts of draughts1 he prefers that from hooks fixed to the cross-bar1 which he used many years without a galled shoulder1 but which would be unsuited to carts with very high wheels and high1 straight shafts4 ,if a horse in a well-fitting collar is properly put to a cart by his harness1 with saddle firmly fixed in its place1 and back-band loose to allow the shafts to play in their tugs1 he will work from fixed draughts without being injured4 ,ring hames-draughts1 of old style1 which are most practical of all1 will contribute more to a horse's comfort than all the new fads in drawing-hooks and bars4 ,the most practical tandem harness1 and the most effective on all horses1 with all carts1 and in all places1 was suggested by1 and in character is similar to1 the four-horse harness of mail and stage-coach days1 when everything useful and nothing superfluous1 was the rule4 ,some of its salient features are its collars with angular or pointed throats1 for preventing choking from pressure on the windpipe2 ringed hames-draughts--least rigid1 most yielding to shoulders1 and most durable ever designed1 and like every two metal parts working on each other 7as leader's spring trace-hooks and tandem eyes of wheeler's trace-buckles71 polished to avoid mutilation by friction2 leader's pad1 or saddle1 shaped to suit the back1 however sharp2 strapping 7as cruppers1 loin-strap1 etc47 unlined and unstitched1 in keeping with the broad1 stout traces of single thickness1 of which the wheeler's1 furnished with chains at the ends1 are adaptable to the draughts1 however long or short1 of all carts without moving the points of traces or disfiguring them with three-cornered holes made by a jack-knife4 ,the harness above described1 while specially in keeping with the ,whitechapel cart1 is very appropriate for the more showy1 highly painted dog-cart2 as the more costly lined and much-sewn harness is not out of place in both these traps4 ,the chief objection1 and almost the sole one1 to the harness of my choice1 is its reasonable cost--none whatever to its appearance or effect can be offered1 a set each of brown and black leather costing1 together1 little more than the value of one set of the other kind of harness4 ,the tandem of ,mr4 ,g4 ,f4 ,mc,candless 7,plate ,,xxxvi471 an honorary member of the ,new ,york ,tandem ,club1 will be remembered by those who saw it in the competitions at the first horse show2 for effective association of colors of horses and cart1 as well as for other appointments1 it stood at that time unrivalled1 whether seen on the road1 in the park1 or on the tan-bark of ,madison ,square ,garden4 ,the illustration is by ,gray-,parker4 ,it is only a sketch1 and in it there are defects which did not exist in the original4 ,for example1 ,mr4 ,mc,candless's position on the box is too rigid and straight2 the wheeler is too far away from his work4 ,nevertheless1 the drawing is very smart4 ,this is a good example of the going-to-cover cart described above4 ,mr4 ,mc,candless1 whose taste in such matters will not be questioned1 has in use the harness recommended in this article4 ,inquiries are sometimes made as to the correctness of using either the leader's loin-strap1 or wheeler's kicking-strap alone1 that is1 either without the other4 ,both are practical appliances1 and either or both may be dispensed with1 though the loin-strap seems to be necessary for sustaining the very considerable length of the lead traces2 while the kicking-strap1 except for finish1 is necessary only when a kicker in the shafts is to be restrained4 ,a breeching for the wheeler1 entirely useless on the level1 is indispensable for journeys through a hilly country4 ,views differ as to the length of lead traces4 ,it is admitted that to place a draught-horse as near his work as possible is preferable1 but it is claimed that the rule does not apply to a tandem leader1 who works only on heavy or hilly ground1 his office being chiefly ornamental2 indeed1 as a friend of mine used to say1 the duty of the leader was to deceive the wheeler1 who would cheerfully do all the work in tandem1 when he seemed to understand that he was being pulled along1 though he was dull in single harness4 ,a longish tandem is good in outline1 and for horses #ae4c hands ,i prefer lead traces #aj feet to #aj feet #f inches in length4 ,short traces1 requiring the leader at all times to be in his collar to keep clear of the wheeler1 are especially adapted to the use of drivers whose leaders are always at work up hill1 down hill1 and on level ground2 while longer ones are the sort for skilful performers whose lead traces are gently swinging when1 on smooth roads1 the cart seems to run of itself4 ,within a few years there has been invented a contrivance for attaching lead traces to the wheeler's harness by two bars1 or whiffletrees1 of different lengths1 suspended by a chain from the wheeler's hames-chain4 ,for the use of ladies who drive tandem1 or occasional experimental drivers of the other sex1 such safety arrangement must be invaluable1 but tandem drivers of the old school would hardly utilize such substitutes for skill1 or1 to use an ,english slang term1 they wouldn't be found dead with 'em1 lest they be denied a decent burial4 ,the driving seat1 which is called the box1 is made up of a hollow wooden box1 with top sloping1 from the required height at the back1 to its front edge of1 say1 two or more inches in thickness1 the four sides being covered with the same material as that of the cushion1 which is scooped or hollowed on its upper surface1 sloped on its side edges1 tufted throughout its breadth and depth for firmness1 and should be fitted to the driver4 ,for adapting it to the use of all drivers1 of whatever length of leg1 there is a cushion of no fixed dimensions2 but it is found that one comfortable for a man of1 say1 #e feet #aj inches1 and average weight1 with a correct seat and slightly bent knees and feet drawn together1 will suit nearly all1 the shorter man sitting a little forward and the taller one a little back upon the cushion4 ,a box-cushion so thick in its front edge as to chafe the under side of the legs of a driver with a good seat and feet resting naturally against the sloping foot-board1 will cause much discomfort4 ,a score or more of years ago in ,england was conceived the fad of plain1 unshaped box-cushions for coaches1 so high at the back and with a pitch so steep that the dragsman could not sit in and could only lean against them1 nearly this entire weight being sustained by the foot-board2 an example of which may be seen in ,barrand's picture entitled1 ,the ,london ,season1 published in #ahgj4 ,this absurd fashion was short-lived4 ,if such a cushion is unsuited to a coach1 it is even more unfit for a two-wheeled cart1 because when the off-side wheel drops suddenly into a hole1 or strikes the ground after passing over a considerable obstacle1 the driver from his leaning position1 his legs being straight and rigid1 is liable to be shot out of his seat into the road1 or deposited on the wing over the wheel1 from which latter place a friend of mine informs me he was often so fortunate1 when using the objectionable sort of cushion described1 as to be able to scramble back into his place without pulling up4 ,sitting in1 not leaning against1 a shaped cushion1 with body erect and knees slightly bent1 and yielding to the motion of the cart1 the danger mentioned will be materially lessened1 and if forewarned of a wheeler's falling1 the driver may save himself from being landed beyond the horse's head1 even if he fails to retain his seat in the cart4 ,it must have been to this conforming to the movement of the vehicle on the importance of which1 as affecting safety1 so much stress is laid1 that the celebrated ,jack ,mytton owed his preservation when1 running his gig-wheel up a bank1 he afforded his passenger a new sensation by pitching him out like a sack of meal1 and when1 also1 as was his custom1 he charged a gate with his tandem1 for he survived those and other similar exploits4 ,in my limited experience in driving tandems ,i have never had a leader1 however vicious1 part company with the wheeler and bolt with his harness dangling about him2 but if that event is yet to occur1 and the twenty-three feet of lead-reins run clear1 leaving my wheeler's bridle intact and in place1 ,i shall attribute such good fortune to unbuckled hand-parts1 and to the freedom of action of the swivels in my wheel throat-latch1 so very practical1 and so much to be preferred to the fixtures attaching to the rosettes at the wheeler's ears4 ,the whip1 like every other appointment of the tandem1 is ,english1 and is a very different affair from the flail-like instrument used by our ancestors4 ,of a tandem-whip1 the stick should be #e feet and the thong #ab feet #f inches long4 ,some authorities fix the length of the thong at #aj feet or even less1 to which1 though seemingly impracticable1 certain tandem drivers conform involuntarily by cutting off with their wheel a yard or so of point and leaving it in the road4 ,the convenient disposal of this thong of such considerable length severely tries the patience and tests the skill of the beginner4 ,holding the stick in the right hand at about the upper mounting for balance1 and the point of the thong between the stick and the fingers1 by a dexterous motion1 proceeding entirely from the wrist1 pitch the thong over to the right of1 and away from1 the stick1 which1 being suddenly stopped1 the thong returns upon and is wound round it about four times1 producing the long1 depending1 open loop1 which is called the double thong4 ,the coils are followed down the stick by a small loop1 and yet other coils of the point of the thong1 but in the opposite direction to the first ones4 ,taking the small lower loop between the thumb and forefinger of the rein-hand 7which should in no case be disturbed or diverted from its purpose when driving71 by a movement of the stick with the right1 disengage the point of the thong and lay it along the stick to the hand4 ,a turn or two of the double thong round the stick to the right1 or off side1 will effect the figure #h1 which some authorities condemn1 but which is practical1 as it holds the thong on the stick when double thonging a wheeler1 or when driving in a high wind2 and many old coaching prints attest its correctness1 although it has often been suggested that the methods of the men working a coach a hundred miles a day1 when coaching was a trade as well as an art1 have been improved upon since it became a pastime4 ,the catching of two double thongs at the same time1 with as many whips held one in each hand1 is an altogether useless performance1 and is suggestive of the practice of legerdemain rather than coaching4 ,men who drive1 or who have driven their own teams1 would hardly devote their time to such a purposeless occupation4 ,the thongs of new tandem whips are always wiry1 and it is difficult to make them hold to the stick4 ,the scheme recommended for making them pliable is the following3 loan your whip to a persevering beginner and tell him1 ,shut yourself up in your room and learn to catch your whip there and in private1 as advised by the author of ,down the ,road4 ,if he really is ambitious1 and has the necessary application1 and particularly if he persists in following his own methods1 by the time he has acquired the simple little trick your thong will have become quite supple2 but if you are likely to want your whip within a reasonable time1 you had better not concede to him the privilege of keeping it until he has attained to proficiency1 as you may not get it back during his natural life4 ,beginners are much given to concerning themselves about the cost and ornamentation of their whips rather than the proper mode of using them4 ,a whip with extravagant mountings in unskilful hands renders its owner ridiculous4 ,the most important quality of any whip is its feeling or balance1 which is utterly sacrificed to the silversmith when he is allowed to affix to its butt a foot of his metal of medival style4 ,it is better to buy other examples of his skill1 and preserve your whip in its original serviceable form4 ,the yew is the only whip of which ,i find mention in old coaching days3-- ,for1 sure1 the coachman hands are few1 ,that wield in style the polished yew1 and barring the fault peculiar to it of warping1 the yew is a capital stick4 ,holly is now in almost universal use for whips of ,english style1 and of all whips and sticks is undoubtedly to be preferred4 ,some thorns are also used1 but it is rare to find that sort of stick with the taper and feeling or life of hollies1 they being mostly of nearly uniform substance from butt-end to point4 ,since the publication of the coaching book1 entitled ,down the ,road1 in which is an illustration of the dog-legged four-horse whip presented to the author by the professional coachman1 ,tom ,hennessy1 no dragsman's or tandem driver's collection of whips is considered complete without at least one whip with a single crook in the stick4 ,driving aprons are important in the equipment of a tandem1 and should be in keeping with its character4 ,bedford cords1 box cloths1 and other materials of drab color are most durable1 and for sporting traps1 most effective in appearance1 and their care involves comparatively little expenditure of time and labor4 ,aprons of plain dark colors furnish an agreeable contrast to the driver's top-coat and the servant's livery greatcoat when those garments are of drab2 but the work of keeping them clean is slavish1 and continual1 and they quickly fade and lose their freshness1 on account of which objections to them1 drab ones1 being free from the faults named1 are preferred4 ,a turnout1 with a simple apron for the front seat1 and none for the shivering groom on the hind seat1 has an unfinished look1 suggestive of insufficient means or want of thoughtfulness for the comfort of the servant4 ,devotees of the art of tandem driving1 who have not enjoyed the treat of a perusal of that charming book entitled ,frank ,fairleigh1 by ,mr4 ,smedley1 may be entertained by the author's description of the turnout of the ,honorable ,george ,lawless1 as follows3-- ,perched high in mid-air1 upon some mysterious species of dog-cart1 bearing a striking resemblance to the box to a mail-coach1 which had contrived by some private theory of development of its own1 to dispense with its body1 while it had enlarged its wheels to an almost incredible circumference2 perched on top of this remarkable machine1 and enveloped in a white greatcoat undermined in every direction by strange and unexpected pockets1 was none other than the ,hon4 ,george ,lawless4 ,the turnout was drawn by a pair of thoroughbreds1 driven tandem1 which were now1 their irascible tempers being disturbed by delay1 relieving their feelings by executing a kind of hornpipe upon their hind legs4 ,the top-coat recognized as the standard for driving at the present day is called a driving-cape1 doubtless from its resemblance in the matter of amplitude of skirts to a sleeved cape2 and when properly constructed as to its lines1 balance1 and the position of its pockets is a very down-the-road looking garment--a refinement of the ,upper-,benjamin of stage-coach days4 ,made of stout cloth of drab color1 not white2 furnished with a velvet collar which hangs off from the neck to allow room inside it for a coaching muffler with a bit of spot2 the leather-lined pockets1 with flaps of liberal size1 placed low in the skirts for convenience of access2 the outward seams strapped and stoutly sewn1 and lined with an effective plaid of woollen1 when hung at proper balance on the shoulders1 which sustain its whole weight1 and whence1 in a downward direction1 its circumference increases until1 at the bottom of the skirts1 which reach the knees1 it stands out from the wearer all around as if hooped inside1 it is very comfortable and of workmanlike appearance whether worn or laid down on the box-cushion of a coach or tandem cart4 ,having described the properly appointed tandem1 we will suppose it has been brought round to the door by the groom1 who1 having got down and hung the reins on the wheeler's off-side terret1 or looped them through the corner of the dasher1 takes his place at the wheeler's head1 where he remains until his master picks up the ribbons1 when he goes to the head of the leader4 ,inserting the middle finger of the right hand between the wheeler's reins1 and the forefinger between the leader's1 always keeping the near-side rein of each on top1 you have the near lead-rein over the forefinger1 the off lead and near wheel reins in the order mentioned between the fore and middle fingers1 and the off wheel-rein between the middle and second fingers4 ,having assorted and placed the reins as directed1 and adjusted them as to length1 still holding them together with the whip in your right hand1 laying hold of the seat rail1 with your left you climb into the cart1 and transferring your reins1 without change of their relations1 to the corresponding fingers of the left hand1 you drop into your seat4 ,some carts1 from their peculiar construction and arrangement of seat1 rail1 and steps1 not being adapted to the pulling yourself up by the rail with the left hand alone1 as on a coach1 it may be necessary to take hold of the rail or the corner of the dasher with the right1 when care should be taken not to disturb the wheeler with the whip1 which1 with the reins1 you have in that hand4 ,your passenger should have gotten up in the box-seat at the same time as1 or after1 the driver1 but not before4 ,having satisfied yourself that everything is shipshape1 gently feeling the horses' mouths by their reins1--those of the leader1 who should not be in the collar at the start1 should be a little less slack than his traces1--you start your horses by an all right1 or a let 'em go1 or a double click1 or by some other signal1 but in no event using the improper pull up in vogue1 of meaning directly opposed to your purpose4 ,having seen the leader started1 the servant1 not moving from his position1 salutes his master as the tandem passes1 and when the tail of the cart reaches him he climbs up1 taking his place in the middle of the hind seat and sitting quite erect with folded arms1 instead of slouching about all over the shop4 ,a servant should have pride enough to do his part in maintaining the character of the turnout which he renders ridiculous when sprawling in his seat and gaping about as though waiting to recognize passing acquaintances4 ,he should look intently into space1 and affect to see nothing4 ,a tandem is dependent very much for its effect upon the groom1 who should be all alive1 and when he feels the pace slackening1 should concern himself as to the purpose1 and1 getting to the ground quickly1 find his way to the leader's head by the time the team is pulled up4 ,a dapper1 trim-built groom1 of light weight and medium height1 is most in keeping with the character of a tandem1 for which a very tall or a very stout servant is unsuited4 ,when no passenger occupies it1 the groom's place is in the box-seat by the side of his master1 the tailboard of the cart being shut up4 ,lord ,tomnoddy's-- ,tiger ,tim1 ,was clean of limb1 ,his boots were polished1 his jacket was trim6 ,with a very smart tie in his smart cravat1 ,and a smart cockade on the top of his hat2 ,tallest of boys1 or shortest of men1 ,he stood in his stockings just four feet ten6 ,the equipage of the ,honorable ,george ,lawless1 whose cart and top-coat ,i have already described1 and whose taste in all matters appertaining to the appointment of a tandem was unquestioned1 was completed by a tiger so small1 that1 beyond a vague sensation of top-boots1 and a livery hat1 one's senses failed to realize him4 ,rules for driving that have been made by the proper authorities should be carefully observed4 ,occasion may arise when it is necessary to take liberties with prescribed forms4 ,in tandem driving1 which should be done with one hand as much as possible1 there is one rule1 the observance of which is essential to safety1 and that is never to lose your horses' mouths by getting your hands so close up to your chest that you have no space to spare for pulling up4 ,you may see some drivers with their hands nearly up to their chins and looking supremely happy in their ignorance of the risk they incur4 ,the proper position of the left or rein hand is a few inches forward of the body1 with the elbow adown the side and close to but not pressing against it4 ,nothing is more awkward than the elbows at an angle showing daylight between them and the body4 ,the draught on the reins from the elbows to the horses' mouths should be as nearly as possible on a straight line4 ,i would strongly advise beginners to avail themselves of the instructions of any recognized professional dragsman of whatever pretensions4 ,if you find one incompetent to teach you1 you are confirmed in your own skill1 which is worth all you have paid for the information4 ,it would be strange if any man who had practised the calling for any considerable length of time had not picked up some wrinkles or dodges worth knowing that had escaped the learner hitherto4 ,an accomplished instructor having been found1 pupils should take a full course of lessons1 as1 however apt scholars1 they will hardly have absorbed in a limited number all the knowledge acquired by one who has devoted a lifetime to the pursuit4 ,nearly all beginners are too anxious to exhibit their self-reliance1 and declare too early their independence of the mentor4 ,acquire the correct methods1 or aim to do so1 of doing all things connected with tandem driving1 and be satisfied with nothing else2 there can be no compromise with what is called form1 a word1 it may be remarked1 so significant as to admit of no qualifications2 a thing is form or is not form1 and the terms good and bad prefixed to it are as superfluous as if applied to perfection 7compare p4 #cad74 ,and when adopting the customs peculiar to another country1 one should make sure he can reach an accepted standard before attempting to improve upon it or surpass it4 ,ambitious parties who always aim to exceed recognized standards1 essay to drive a tandem of three or four horses1 which they style trandom and random--a straining after effect in name as well as performance4 ,as any number of single horses1 not less than two1 harnessed in a single line1 are properly described as a tandem1 such aspirants for fame1 having a name provided for their turnout1 may be concerned solely lest they find themselves with too many horses and too few hands for driving them4 ,in my lexicons of coaching and driving1 no application of either trandom or random is found1 and1 unless the parties have a dictionary of their own1 ,i do not believe there is any authority for such use of the words4 ,a tandem of two horses1 of which the leader turns round and faces the cart1 may be said to be driven at random4 ,i wish1 in closing1 to express my obligation and acknowledgment to ,mr4 ,burton ,mansfield1 the accepted authority in this country for many years upon tandems and tandem driving1 for the valuable assistance he has given me in preparing this article4 ,,bibliography ,draft ,book of ,centennial ,carriages displayed in ,philadelphia4 ,report on ,diseases of the ,horse1 #aijc4 ,department of ,agriculture1 ,washington1 ,d4,c4 ,how to ,buy and ,sell4 ,howden4 ,riders of ,many ,lands4 ,dodge4 ,practical ,horse ,shoeing4 ,fleming4 ,diseases and ,injuries of the ,horse4 ,kirby4 ,the ,horse in ,motion4 ,stillman4 ,bridle ,bits4 ,battersby4 ,modern ,horsemanship4 ,e4 ,l4 ,anderson4 ,horses1 ,saddles1 and ,bridles4 ,colonel ,w4 ,h4 ,carter4 ,the ,practical ,horse ,keeper4 ,fleming4 ,hints on ,driving4 ,captain ,c4 ,morley ,knight4 ,the ,horse in the ,stable and in the ,field4 ,j4 ,h4 ,walsh 7,stonehenge74 #aeth ed4 revised by ,harold ,leeney4 ,points of the ,horse4 ,captain ,hayes4 ,veterinary ,notes for ,horse ,owners4 ,captain ,hayes4 ,the ,private ,stable4 ,james ,a4 ,garland4 ,breaking and ,riding4 ,james ,fillis4 ,translated by ,captain ,hayes4 ,youatt on the ,horse4 ,youatt4 ,complete ,modern ,farrier4 ,brown4 ,the ,art of ,horsemanship4 ,xenophon4 ,translated and edited by ,m4 ,h4 ,morgan4 ,the ,perfect ,horse4 ,w4 ,h4 ,h4 ,murray4 ,horses and ,harness4 ,e4 ,f4 ,flower4 ,omnibuses and ,cabs4 ,h4 ,c4 ,moore4 ,horse ,sense4 ,j4 ,c4 ,curryer4 ,philipson on ,harness4 ,john ,philipson4 ,our ,noblest ,friend the ,horse4 ,francis ,m4 ,ware4 ,driving4 ,francis ,m4 ,ware and ,others4 ,a ,manual of ,coaching4 ,fairman ,rogers4 ,american ,horses and ,horse ,breeding4 ,dimon4 ,driving ,lessons4 ,e4 ,howlett4 ,experience with the ,trotters and ,pacers4 ,e4 ,geers4 ,driving for ,pleasure4 ,francis ,t4 ,underhill4 ,whips and ,whip-making4 ,w4 ,g4 ,ashford4 ,driving4 ,duke of ,beaufort4 ,badminton ,library4 ,an ,old ,coachman's ,chatter4 ,edward ,corbett4 ,the ,coach ,horn3 ,what to blow and how to blow it4 ,an ,old ,guard4 ,driving as ,i ,found ,it4 ,swales4 ,brighton and its ,coaches4 ,william ,c4 ,a4 ,blew4 ,stage ,coach and ,tavern ,days4 ,alice ,morse ,earle4 ,every ,horse ,owner's ,cyclopdia4 ,j4 ,h4 ,walsh 7,stonehenge74 ,lessons in ,horse ,judging4 ,w4 ,fearnley4 ,the ,form of the ,horse4 ,j4 ,c4 ,l4 ,carson4 ,the ,horse4 ,w4 ,h4 ,flower1 ,c4,b4 ,the ,pocket1 and the ,stud4 ,charles ,brinley4 ,mayhew's ,horse ,management4 ,revised by ,j4 ,i4 ,lupton4 ,seats4 ,saddles4 ,major ,dwyer4 ,astley's ,system of ,horse ,education4 ,philip ,astley4 ,the ,book of the ,horse4 ,s4 ,sidney4 ,,index ,acidity of stomach1 cure for1 #bdh4 ,age of horses1 determining1 #bje4 ,aids1 application of the1 #hh-hi4 ,air in stables1 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,,henshall1 ,m4,d4 ,with many illustrations by ,,martin ,,justice and others4 ,,the ,,big ,,game ,,fishes ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,by ,,charles ,f4 ,,holder4 ,with many illustrations in color by ,,charles ,f4 ,w4 ,,mielatz and others4 ,,musk-,,ox1 ,,bison1 ,,sheep1 ,,and ,,goat ,by ,,caspar ,,whitney1 ,,george ,,bird ,,grinnell1 and ,,owen ,,wister4 ,with many illustrations by ,,carl ,,rungius and others4 ,,guns1 ,,ammunition1 ,,and ,,tackle ,by ,a4 ,w4 ,,money1 ,,horace ,,kephart1 ,w4 ,e4 ,,carlin1 ,a4 ,l4 ,a4 ,,himmelwright1 and ,j4 ,,harrington ,,keene4 ,in preparation for early issue ,,the ,,bear ,,family ,by ,,dr4 ,c4 ,,hart ,,merriam4 ,with illustrations by ,,carl ,,rungius and others4 ,,cougar1 ,,wild ,,cat1 ,,wolf1 ,,and ,,fox ,,the ,,american ,,sportsman',s ,,library ,edited by ,,caspar ,,whitney ,crown #hvo ,cloth #b4jj net ,,second ,,series ,,the ,,sporting ,,dog ,by ,,joseph ,a4 ,,graham4 ,with many illustrations from photographs4 ,,american ,,yachting ,by ,w4 ,p4 ,,stephens4 ,with many illustrations by ,e4 ,a4 ,,schell and ,,carlton ,t4 ,,chapman4 ,,the ,,trotting ,,and ,,the ,,pacing ,,horse ,by ,,hamilton ,,busbey4 ,with many illustrations from photographs4 ,,lawn ,,tennis ,,and ,,lacrosse ,by ,j4 ,,parmly ,,paret and ,,william ,,harvey ,,maddren4 ,with many illustrations from photographs4 ,,photography ,,for ,,the ,,sportsman ,,naturalist ,by ,l4 ,w4 ,,brownell4 ,with numerous illustrations from photographs4 ,,the ,,american ,,thoroughbred ,by ,,charles ,e4 ,,trevathan4 ,with many illustrations from photographs4 ,,riding ,,and ,,driving ,by ,,edward ,l4 ,,anderson and ,,price ,,collier4 ,with many illustrations from photographs4 ,,in ,,preparation ,rowing and ,track ,athletics ,skating1 ,hockey1 and ,kite ,sailing ,baseball and ,football ,,the ,,macmillan ,,company #fd-ff ,,fifth ,,avenue1 ,,new ,,york ,,transcriber',s ,,notes -,obvious print and punctuation errors fixed4 -,due to the odd typographical appearance 7two facing pages matching topic as in a table71 pages from #chb to #cij have been totally rebuilt by the ,transcriber and transformed into an actual table4