TRAINING FOR DRAUGHT. 253 



a state of rest that this instrument can be utilised. 

 There are few roads, however good, on which obstacles 

 to the smooth running of the wheels of vehicles are not 

 encountered in the shape of ruts and stones, either 

 loose or embedded in, but projecting more or less 

 from, the surface. Whenever a wheel comes in contact 

 with one of these its progress is checked, more or less, 

 according to the depth or height of the rut or stone, 

 and this check is forthwith propagated to the collar, 

 causing a proportionate amount of pain and fatigue 

 by the sudden wrench it gives to the horse's neck and 

 legs, and this may be to a great extent avoided by the 

 use of the horse-saver. 



That these savings of power and fatigue may be 

 really effected is matter not of mere theory, but of 

 actual practical illustration. Careful experiments have 

 been instituted and carried out by several public 

 bodies interested in these matters in Germany and 

 elsewhere. The Imperial General Direction of Posts 

 at Berlin, made one series of experiments, the result 

 of which was a strong recommodation to its subordi- 

 nate Posting establishments to introduce this instru- 

 ment. It has been tried successfully by the Swiss 

 Artillery, and the Royal Veterinary Schools at Berlin 

 and Munich have reported that a very considerable 

 amount of saving of fatigue to the horses is attained 

 by its use, and that it prevents the development of 

 certain morbid formations on the horse's limbs, etc., 

 to such an extent that a three years' longer period of 

 service may be expected from them. And, what is of 

 great value in training horses to draught, it has been 

 found that the animal seems to be encouraged to exert 

 its strenojth from findino- that an immediate result 

 follows its first effort. 



