142 



me for a hint of which I have experienced th( 

 advantage. Tandems are rarely seen now ; bu 

 those who still drive a leader, generally attach hij 

 traces to an eye in the traces of the shaft-horse 

 this looks better, but is not so safe as the old 

 fashioned way of hooking them to the end of th( 

 shaft. By the first plan, the stumbling of tin 

 shaft-horse is aggravated into a decided fall, fo 

 the animal is actually pulled down by the continue! 

 motion of the leader; by the old plan, the shaft 

 horse is allowed time to recover a casual trip, aiK 

 is even assisted ; the weight of the carriage beini 

 relieved by the shafts being retained by the leader' 

 traces in a horizontal position. The greatest dan 

 ger in tandem-driving arises from the stumbling c 

 the shaft-horse ; it therefore follows that if eithe 

 of the team is distrusted in his feet or legs, h 

 should be driven leader. 



I have had two deals with Thompson since 

 wrote the preceding remarks. One of them ha 

 proved a very good horse ; the other has been ai 

 unlucky purchase. I bought him with a warrant; 

 of soundness, and I detected no unsoundness fo 

 nearly five weeks after my purchase, though I ex 

 pressed a doubt at the time whether his feet wer 

 right. He has proved lame from inflammation o 

 the navicular joint. He is so unexceptionable ii 





