THE HANKY MAN ON THE FARM. S29 



SECTION XIV, 



The Handy Man on the Farm* 



HARNESS, HARNESS FITTING, AND REPAIRING.* 



Much depends upon the tractive power of the horse, and its effective utilisa- 

 tion necessitates the adoption of harness which will not in any degree tend 

 to depreciate the value of his strength. The price of all horses, whether 

 used for light or heavy draught, is extremely high, and, even apart from 

 considerations of comfort, it does not pay owners to have their horses laid 

 by through injuries contracted in the course of their work. The harness is 

 necessary to enable the animal to exert his strength efficiently, and in 

 selecting the harness it must be remembered that, while securing this, it 

 must not cause more than .the unavoidable minimum of discomfort. No 

 horse put in harness should suffer any inconvenience except that arising 

 from fatigue. Unfortunately, however, through lack of knowledge of the 

 proper adjustment of harness, many horses do suffer considerable pain whilst 

 at work. This gradually leads up to temporary incapacity, and in some 

 cases to permanent injuries such as fistulous withers, &c. 



Many vices — for example, jibbing and bolting — have their origin in badly- 

 fitting harness. When the horse is compelled to work in an unsuitable 

 collar, the undue pressure on any part of the shoulder causes chafing and 

 soreness, and the horse naturally recoils from what causes him agony. 

 Ultimately the best-tempered beast becomes vicious and uncontrollable, 

 through nothing but culpable ignorance on the part of his driver. 



Every horse differs in size and shape, and, to fit him properly, it is neces- 

 sary to use much care. It is not sufficient to depend upon the saddler to fit 

 horses with their harness. The owner should know the use and proper 

 adjustment of every part. Wrung shoulders frequently occur through 

 leaving the selection to the saddler, who, rather than go to the trouble of 

 obtaining a proper collar for a horse that is difficult to suit, may choose 

 the nearest fit in his ready-made stock, and justifies his choice by the con- 

 tention that the collar will soon adjust itself to the shape of the shoulder. 

 If it is not a good fit in the first instance, it will never become so, and in 

 the so-called self-adjustment it is quite possible that the horse will be 

 permanently injured. 



Plough Harness. 



This is the simplest form of harness, and consists merely of winkers, 

 collar, and hames, backhand, and chains. 



Winkers are almost exclusively used as the headgear for horses doing 

 heavy draught work. Open bridles are seldom used, as with them the horse, 

 unless he is particularly willing, develops a cunning habit of shirking his 

 work. 



• Condensed from Farmers' Bulletin, No. 45. by A. H. K. McDonald, Chief Inspector 

 of Agriculture, formerly of Hawkesburv Agricultural College, who was assisted l>y 

 6. Cobb and H. Collins, also formerly of the College staff. 



