TRAINING FOR DRAUGHT. 267 



blocks will then, on being fitted in, have a wedge 

 shape and will be kept in 'their proper place by the 

 friction against the tire, but it will be better to fasten 

 them in at the back by means of a wood-screw, for 

 if the brake be applied behind the wheels the small 

 end of the wedge coming at top, it would be liable 

 to fall out. See figure 23. 



The other difficulty arises from the power by 

 which the break is applied being frequently made 

 to act not in the centre of the brake bar, but at or 

 near one end of it. The consequence is, that the 

 other end not being equally braced up, jerks and 

 makes a clapping noise which frightens the horse. 

 The power should therefore be applied as nearly in 

 the centre of the bar as possible, and this should act 

 on the tire of the wheel on a level with the axle- 

 tree as most coachmakers know. The brake is a 

 great help when one has to deal with a horse or 

 pony given to bolting or running away, but it 

 should for this very reason be made to act as noise- 

 lessly as possible. Perfectly noiseless it can scarcely 

 be made, and we should therefore accustom the 

 horse to its use on level ground in the first in- 

 stance. Whenever one can it is, of course, best to 

 begin the training of young horses in four-wheeled car- 

 riages ; if fitted with a brake so much the better, and 

 best of all when this can be done alongside a steady 

 trained horse. 



Kestiveness and insubordination in draught are not 

 easily dealt with, and are perhaps, still more dangerous 

 than under the saddle. The general principles on which 

 these are best combated will be found in Part IV., 

 which treats especially this part of our subject. It 



