216 THE PERFECT HOKSE. 



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 the 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 occasionally. 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 



