MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 167 



In descending slopes the lead and swing drivers must keep their pairs 

 well reined back, assisting the wheel and brake to slow up the carriage. 

 The gait must never be accelerated, or the pairs allowed to get out of 

 hand. 



In ascending inclines, the gait must be kept slow and steady, avoiding 

 rush and excitement. The off horses must be urged quietly with the 

 voice and tap of the reins to do their full share, the drivers leaning well 

 forward in their saddles, and keeping all traces tight. 



Ditches or broken ground should not be rushed, but crossed slowly 

 and quietly, avoiding jerks on the traces and , consequent bruising of 

 shoulders by collar. 



The wheel driver is responsible for the direction of the carriage. He 

 is also responsible for backing the carriage. In case of necessity a 

 good wheel driver can take the draft away from the lead and swing by 

 urging forward his pair, slackening the forward traces, and swing the 

 pole as desired. This should only be employed in close quarters. 



In the turns, pressure of all pairs must be exerted towards the outside 

 of the circle, which will place the pairs tangent to the turning arc, the 

 heads of horses on inside of turn between interval of pair in front. In 

 turning avoid two tracking, which will only be necessary in the limber 

 turn, or in a sharp ninety degree turn, such as at a narrow cross road 

 where the lead and swing move as far forward as possible and then 

 quickly swing both pairs in traces to right or left. 



In starting carriage in motion, drivers, after gathering their pairs, 

 must take up slack in traces before moving out. When the traces are 

 straight throughout and the horses are up against their collars, jerking 

 and beating of the shoulders will be avoided, and the team will move 

 out smoothly in unison. 



The cannoneer on brake must always be on the alert, sizing up the 

 road ahead, and watching the traces. The wheel driver can assist him' 

 by calling "Brakes" at the proper time. Over difificult ground it 

 requires a skilful, experienced man on the brake to apply and release 

 brake just at the right moment. Clever use of the brake smooths out 

 the draft. 



On the road is the place to correct errors in draft and adjustment of 

 harness. Until proper adjustment of harness is obtained, it is well 

 for the caisson corporals to carry a piece of chalk to mark on collars and 

 harness any places of defect and places for readjustment that are noted 

 on halts along road. In this way the harness can be sized to horse as a 

 tailor fits his cloth measurement to a man. 



A close fitting collar, that is snug, with equal bearing surface and no 

 vacant air spaces, is to be desired. The breast strap should be well up 

 above points of shoulders. 



There is a 70-lb. upward component pressure in draft which is lost 

 energy., which can be partially overcome by strapping traces at cincha 

 ring with a "holding down strap." 



The pull against shoulders should, in all cases, be as perpendicular as 

 possible against bearing surface of shoulders. 



The traces in draft should be fairly horizontal. 



