HARNESSING. 57 



In YoMng or ^^ putting to,^^ the shafts of a vehicle 

 must never be left on -the ground while the horse is 

 being: backed into them. If the shafts touch him he 

 will probably kick, or he may injure by standing on 

 them. 



Traces. — Great care should be taken in adjusting 

 these to prove that they are of an even length, as the 

 least deviation in equality is liable by pressure on one 

 side to produce a sore on the neck, under the collar of 

 the horse that happens to be on the side of the shortest 

 trace. — See "Jibbing," page 86. 



The buckles of all traces and backhands ought to be 

 provided with detached pieces of lea,ther cut square 

 the width of those straps, and placed under the buckles, 

 the tongues of which pass through these bits of leather ; 

 the straps thus protected from being cut by the buckles 

 will wear nearly thrice as long as otherwise, and there 

 is nothing unsightly in the arrangement. 



In all cases, draught-horses should be placed close to 

 their work — i. e., the traces should be as short as will 

 just allow of the animal's going down an inclination at 

 a brisk pace without coming in contact with the car- 

 riage, the britching for single, and the pole-chains for 

 double harness, being tightened in proportion to keep 

 the carriage from running on them down-hill. 



For Pole-Chains and Sivinging-Bars, see page 72. 



The Haines. — In order to divide the draught or 

 pressure of the traces on the shoulders a little, the 

 hames might be furnished with scroll draught eyes ; 

 this, however, has become unfashionable from being 

 much used by cabmen, and for rough draught. 



Hames Top-Straps. — Care should be taken that 

 these are perfectly sound and strong, especially in 



