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MOUNTED INSTRUCTlOi^r 



with the trail as the lower arm. The yielding obtained in this way 

 encourages the horses and brings the total weight into their collars 

 more gradually. 



In a heavy pull a driver should always watch the traces in front. 

 Should they become loose, he very gradually holds his own pair back 

 until they tighten up and the horses to the front again come to draft. 

 The whole team may then, if necessary, be urged forward a little faster. 

 This method insures all the horses coming into draft without the jerk, 

 so disconcerting to the whole team, that frequently results when a pair 

 is brought to draft by being urged forward at increased speed. 



Carriages should be driven squarely across sunken roads, ruts, nar- 

 row ditches, etc., so as to avoid' whipping the pole. 



Starting a Stalled Team 



Figure 20. Starting a stalled team. The pole is broken to the right and 

 the team telescoped preparatory to getting the pairs into draft successively. 

 Cannoneers assist at the wheels. 



STALLED TEAMS 



To make a stalled team pull, back up all the horses until the traces 

 are as slack as possible, and pass the pairs well to the right or left. 

 Start the leaders quietly, gradually moving them to the front at the 

 same time. The swing driver should watch the lead traces, and when 

 they begin to tighten he should move his team forward as the lead 

 driver did. The wheel driver should move his team so that it will get in 

 draft when the swing traces tighten. The instant the traces tighten, 

 the horses should be required to give their maximum eflfort. 



The advantages of this method can be briefly summarized : 

 Every horse moves one or more steps to the front before the traces 

 tighten, thus giving him the idea that everything is all right. By mov- 

 ing sidewise at the same time, the tension in the traces is taken up 

 gradually, without shock to the shoulders. It is much easier of accom- 

 plishment than is the moving of the whole team at once. The horse or 

 horses of a stalled teaiu should never be whipped. 



