394 THE TROTTING-I10RSE OF AMERICA. 



suddenly, but gradually, and by this means they will not 

 pull quite so hard, and will trot faster. It is not natural for 

 horses to pull hard. Some there are, of uncommon ardor 

 and determination, tha t will pull in company ; but more are 

 made hard-pullers by faulty handling when young, which 

 has deadened their mouths. 



In order that a fast horse should be under circumstances 

 to do his best, he should be as much at his ease in his 

 harness and general rig as possible. If he is not, he is 

 placed at almost as much disadvantage as if sore or stiff, or 

 suffering from some bodily ailment. You may see horses 

 brought out of the stable to trot with a very tight check to 

 keep their heads up, and a tight martingale to keep it down. 

 Such a horse is in irons ; and when to this is added a dead 

 drag at the reins, and no movement of the bit from end to 

 end, I cannot see how he should do his best. People talk 

 about a steady, bracing pull ; but, in my opinion, that is not 

 tlve right way to drive a trotter. There is a great difference 

 between letting go of your horse's head, and keeping up 

 one dull, deadening pull all the time. The race-horse riders 

 practise what is called a bracing pull ; and, a great many 

 times, I have seen their horses tire under it without ever 

 running their best. The steady pull choked them. The 

 pull should be sufficient to feel the mouth, and give some 

 support and assistance, so as to give the horse confidence to 

 get up to his stride. More than that is mischievous. To 

 keep the mouth alive, the bit must be shifted a little occa- 

 sionally. But this is not to be done by a pull of the hand 

 on the rein. A mere half-turn of the wrist, or less than 

 half a turn, by which the thumb is elevated and the little 

 finger lowered, is sufficient to shift the bit, keep the mouth 

 sensitive, and rouse the horse. 



The reins are to be steadily held with both hands while 

 this play with the wrist is made ; and it is, of course, only 

 to be done with one wrist at a time. The hands should be 

 well down ; and the driver ought not to sit all of a heap, 



