208 THE PERFECT HORSE. 



This point is put j)lainlj and eloquently, and, coming 

 from the greatest master of driving the trotting-horse 

 America has ever had, is to be accepted, and will be by 

 sensible people, as a law not to be violated. This pidl- 

 ing style of driving not only mars a horse's action, but 

 converts a pleasure into a toil. To draw a wagon by 

 the reins is hard work for the horse, and equally hard 

 work for the driver. It kills the very object of driving 

 among gentlemen, which is recreation and rest and 

 stimulating excitement ; and makes what when properly 

 managed is easy and delightful a most laborious and in- 

 deed hazardous proceeding. This light, easy, touch-and- 

 go style of holding the lines and guiding the horse is 

 supposed by some to be insufficient to prevent a horse 

 from breaking his gait ; but, far from this being true, the 

 fact is, it is the pulled horse that is most likely to ''kink " 

 up and get ''twisted''^ in going. Nature has so ad- 

 justed the head and tail of a horse, that they assist him, 

 when stretched in rapid motion, to keep his balance, and 

 direct himself All speedy animals run with streaming 

 tails and straightened necks, and noses pointed ahead ; 

 and it stands to reason that a horse with his head curbed 

 under, so that his nose is nearly pulled against his breast, 

 cannot move at his fastest rate of going. His driver's 

 insane conduct keeps him out of balance, and compels 

 him to go in an unnatural way. For the same reasons, 

 check-lines should be avoided, especially on colts. 

 Now and then it may be necessary to put on some 

 such contrivance ; but it argues that the colt or horse 



