Haunkss and IIakxessixg. 



73^ 



The lines 



The arrangement of the lines adds much to the appearance of the 

 turnout and to the comfort of the horse. The spread hne should be so 

 adjusted as to enable the horse to travel straight to the front. It is a 

 common practice in cities to lengthen the spread lines so that the horses 

 in a team travel wide apart or are well spread. This spreading, if car- 

 ried to excess, may be objectionable, and under certain conditions should 

 be avoided. Driving horses should never be a b c o 



spread so wide apart that they cannot travel 

 straight to the front without turning their heads 

 outwards. It often happens, especially in the 

 country, that the roads are not well broken, 

 the worn track narrow, and if spread too wide 

 the animals must turn their heads outward in 

 order to travel in the worn track. Sometimes 

 we meet the other extreme: the horses are 

 checked too short and must turn their heads 

 inward in order to travel in the worn track. 



Multiple hitch. — It may be that one wishes 

 to hitch four horses abreast. There are many 

 ways of arranging the lines in a four-horse 

 hitch, and the following is as simple as any: 

 Take a pair of common check lines and attach 

 to the outside horses just as if hitching two 

 horses (Fig. 40) , that is, snap the spread Hne 

 in the ring in the bit next to the outside 

 horse. Take three straps about eighteen inches long. Make them so 

 they can be adjusted to any length with a buckle and have a snap in 

 each end. Snap one end in the right side of the outside near horse and 

 in the left side of the horse next to it. Snap all four bits together in 

 like manner. When thus hitched they will appear as in the illustration. 

 This method works equally well with three, four, five, or as many horses 

 as one cares to work abreast. 



Fig. 40 — Diagram showing 

 multiple hitch 



Fitting the collar 



The service of the horse is largely accomplished by the shoulders 

 and it is of the utmost importance that the collar fit the neck and shoulders 

 perfectly. Poorly fitted collars cause the horse much pain, result in 

 sore necks and shoulders and are a common cause of viciousness among 

 horses. Because of the extreme importance of having a well-fitting 



