422 



ON DRAUGHT. 



These straps, if well fitted, were not bad ; but as they must have pressed 

 in some degree upon the throat, they could not be equal to the collar of 

 the yoked horses; still less to the collar at present used. 



In more modern times, these shoulder-straps gave place to the breast- 

 strap. A horse can no doubt exert a considerable strain against such a strap, 

 but in action it must impede the movement of the shoulder. 



In some parts of South America the trace is fixed to the pommel of the 

 saddle, which in its turn is well secured to the horse by saddle-girths, 

 breast-straps, and breechings ; and we are informed that horses in this 

 manner drag very considerable loads. It resembles completely the harness 

 of the ancients, with the addition of the breechings. It is, of course, a 

 mere temporary arrangement, convenient only as requiring no preparation. 

 The trace is, in flict, the lasso of the rider, which is always fastened to the 

 saddle ; and, when he has entangled it around the horns of a bull, or 

 attached it to any thing he may have occasion to transport, he takes one or 

 two turns of the thong around the pommel of the saddle, and the horse will 

 at full gallop drag the load after him. Here the load being generally upon 

 the ground, the trace must incline considerably downward ; and this, added 

 to the weight of the rider, will perhaps account in some degree for the extra- 

 ordinary effects of a young powerful horse, goaded to the utmost, and con- 

 tinuing the exertion only for a short time. 



A gentleman who travelled some time in this part of America, and fre- 

 quently witnessed the practical effects of this arrangement, has suggested 

 the propriety of introducing it into the artillery, by means of which any 

 number of horses might in an instant be attached to a gun, to extricate it 

 from any heavy or broken ground in which it might be entangled. Cer- 

 tainly, the length of these traces would enable these additional horses to 

 secure a good footing; and any number of horses might thus be made to 

 lend their assistance in time of need. We do not pretend, however, to 

 judge of the practical utility of this measure, but merely record the sug- 

 gestion of another. 



The collar now generally used is an improvement upon the ancient 

 shoulder-strap described by Homer; and it is probably the bes: possible 



