248 DRAUGHT AND HARNESS. 



It is much better, and in the end shorter, to begin 

 by putting some portions of the harness on the horse in 

 the stable, and then by degrees the whole. If the animal 

 is once brought to eat his corn with the harness on 

 (excepting of course the bridle), standing quietly in his 

 stall, a great step will have been made. The next 

 thing will be to take him out and walk him quietly 

 about, taking care that the traces do not dangle. Then 

 these may be taken down, lengthened a yard ar two 

 with a piece of rope, and held by an assistant in rear, 

 whilst the trainer takes the reins, and in this way a 

 good notion may be conveyed to the horse of what he 

 will have to do later. It is evident that a perfectly 

 raw remount or young horse should first of all be 

 lounged and trained to a certain extent under the 

 saddle ; and the more carefully and completely this has 

 been done, the less trouble will there be afterwards, and 

 the less risk of accident. 



It will be found very useful to familiarise a young 

 horse with the vehicle he will have to draw for some 

 days before putting him to it ; and when it is practicable, 

 letting him, without being in draught, run alongside of 

 another horse actually in harness is a good way of 

 effecting this object. In Hungary and Poland the pea- 

 sants often feed their young horses out of their carts 

 for some time before putting them in draught. 



So much for the general preliminary treatment ; and 

 now for the details with regard to harness, &c. One 

 grand rule is, to put as little harness as possible on 

 your young horse, and let this little be all perfectly 

 strong and serviceable. A trace or strap breaking may 

 spoil everything ; and of course the vehicle itself should 

 be in good order, and as noiseless as possible. English 



