MOUNTED INSTRUCTION . 153 



conditions preventing movement to right, the lead pair may be moved 

 to left, and accomplish same pnr]:)Ose. 



The above method will work for the following reasons — the lead 

 pair has taken six or eight steps forward before any j^ressure conies 

 on their shoulders, the swing pair three or four and the wheel pair sees 

 the other horses going to the front. This conveys to the horse the 

 idea that everything is all right and he is willing to try again. As the 

 pole, being turned to the right, gives considerable leverage on the 

 hind wheels, the horses in passing to the right come into the collar 

 more gradually. The reason for going to the right is that it is very 

 much easier to control the ofif horse and keep him in the collar than 

 it would be in moving to the left. It is impossible to control the off 

 horse in draft unless he is working close to the near horse. If there 

 is any chance that the team cannot pull out immediately, use the can- 

 noneers on the wheels to assist the horses. 



In stopping carriages or decreasing their gait the lead and swing 

 drivers must remember that the wheel pair have the carriage to stop 

 and for that reason need a longer distance to the front to change the 

 gait than the lead and swing pairs do. Never allow sudden changes 

 of gait where it is possible to avoid it. The gait in a hard pull should 

 be slow, from one to one and a half miles per hour. Do not allow 

 plunging or rushing any grade. In halting or decreasing gait of a car- 

 riage, the wheel driver should slow up before the other drivers so as 

 to tighten traces. 



NECK REINING 



The horse can be trained to neck-rein by the following method : 

 He should be taught first to turn on the forehand to right and to left, 

 a light tap of a switch being used to augment the pressure of the heel. 

 When the horse will move his haunches by the application of the heel, 

 the neck-reining proper should begin. Turning to the right is accom- 

 plished by carrying the left rein against the neck, the right rein being 

 opened wide, the right heel tapping the right flank of the horse. If 

 the horse fails to turn to the right, a slight jerk should be given to 

 the right rein, and the action repeated until the horse obeys. Turning 

 to the left is taught in the reverse manner. 



BACKING 



In teaching a horse to back, the trainer mounts and takes a rein in 

 each hand, the hands being placed near the withers. While always 

 keeping a light pressure on the bit, the pressure should be varied by 

 rapid oscillations of the hands, the hands m.oving in unison so that 

 there is no sawing of the mouth. The legs also should be closed on 

 the horse, and light taps of the heel will be necessary if the animal 

 fails to take a step backward by the end of a minute. 



As soon as the horse takes a step release the reins and reward him, 

 then try it again. When the horse readily responds to the application 

 of the reins, the oscillations of the reins must be worked in unison 



