140 



MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 



Figure 10. Test for martingale and sidestrap adjustment. Move the horse 

 forward into the collar, pull the breeching body to the rear as far as the side- 

 straps and martingale will permit. The clearance should just permit the hand 

 spanned to be entered between the breeching body and the buttocks. 



ADJUSTMENT AND FITTING OF HARNESS 



Drivers will be thoroiiohly impressed with the importance of bestow- 

 ing constant and unremittin.t^- attention on the adjustment and fitting: of 

 harness. They must learn early that a horse can not properly perform 

 his work unless he is made comfortable in well-fitted harness. If the 

 harness pinches, g'alls, or otherwise causes discomfort, his sole idea will 

 be to escape from the annoyance or pain thereby occasioned him, and 

 he will become fretful, nervous, and unsteady in his work. This will 

 not only add to his own distress through a useless expenditure of 

 strengfth and nervous energy, but by rendering- the draft of the whole 

 team unsteady it will needlessly increase the work and fatigue of the 

 other horses. 



ADJUSTING OF HARNESS 



The importance of the proper adjustment of the artillery harness can- 

 not be over-estimated. An artillery horse that cannot be used in 

 draft, due to sore shoulders or neck, is of little value to the battery. 

 The service is now receiving breast collars, and it is believed the breast 

 collar will give satisfaction with the large number of inexperienced men 



