162 MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 



quietly for a few minutes and recover their wind. The first tendency 

 of the inexperienced noncommissioned officer or driver when a team 

 stops is to urge it forward immediately. This is exceedingly wrong. 

 The horses are either taking an absolutely needed rest or are showing 

 by their action that they need assistance. While the horses are resting 

 a sufficient number of cannoneers with drag rope should be brought up 

 so that when the signal to move is given the carriage will certainly 

 move. Such a practice trains the horses that there is no such thing as 

 failure or defeat in a pull and therefore confirms a willingness to pull 

 whenever they are called upon to do so. A team so trained may, when 

 it has become hardened to its work, may be called on to make the at- 

 tempt to pull out of a difficulty unaided unless such a task is clearly be- 

 yond its strength. However, if the attempt fails it must be appreciated 

 that the team to a certain extent has been injured and that for some 

 time to come it must not again be subjected to the risk of failure. A 

 team, trained and managed in accordance with these principles, can al- 

 ways be counted on to occasion a minimum of delay to a battery which 

 encounters difficulties in traiisport. 



DRIVING UP STEEP SLOPES AND OVER 

 DIFFICULT GROUND 



In order to exert his maximum strength when in a difficult pull, the 

 draft horse must get the greatest possible weight forward and into the 

 collar. By maintaining a low, extended, and advanced carriage of the 

 head and neck he is able to add considerably to his power of traction. 

 He should, therefore, be allowed full freedom of rein when in a heavy 

 pull and not be forced to fight the driver's hand. Because a horse can 

 exert a greater power of traction when ridden, it is often advantageous 

 when in a difficult pull to mount cannoneers on the off horse. When 

 pulling up a hill the drivers should lean well forward and should en- 

 courage their horses by the low and quiet use of the voice. 



The most favorable gait for heavy pulling is a steady, uniform walk, 

 with every horse straight in his collar and the team straight from lead 

 to wheel. The tendency to rush a hill or other difficult pull must be 

 avoided. Any increase of speed for such a purpose can not be taken 

 up with perfect uniformity by all the horses of a team and the footing 

 for each horse is rendered more uncertain and difficult. This causes 

 undue weight to come upon the shoulders of some while none at all may 

 be borne by others. Uneven draft quickly results, often to the point of 

 stalling a team. In going over a V-shaped ditch unusual effort should 

 be made to keep the horses at a steady walk. In such a place the brake 

 must be used with great care, so that the traces will be tight and the 

 horses in draft during the entire crossing. The brake should be 

 released a little too late rather than too soon, for, in the latter case, the 

 carriage rushes forward into the bottom of the ditch, where it stops, and 

 the horses on again coming into the draft are given a violent jerk. 



When maneuvering off the road, steep ascents should be taken in 

 line, to avoid checks. When on a road or track, if circumstances per- 



