58 



Cextaur 



TO ATTACH THE HORSE TO THE 



VEHICLE. 



"Slow and Sure.' 



^^|'_N attaching a horse or putting it between 

 the shafts, the most deliberate way is the 

 quickest and safest ; bustling or hurrying 

 and running round its head backwards 

 and forwards is a very dangerous practice, 

 particularly with a spirited animal. 



A few days ago a friend of the writer's 

 (after many remonstrations and cautions 

 for the rushing manner in which he always 

 put the horse in) met with a very serious 

 accident, nearly costing him the life of his 

 steed. To use own words — '* He had just 

 fixed the near side trace and breech-band strap, and was 

 hastening round the back of the dog- cart to attach the off 

 side, when the horse sheered away, at the same time 

 catching the wheel of the vehicle against a large stone fixed 

 in the gateway, causing it to plunge, and the owner to shout 

 and pull at the reins; ultimately, during the brief excitement, 

 the horse got his rump under the shafts and commenced 

 kicking, soon cleared himself of the lot, and bolted away, 

 fell — or was knocked — down in turning the corner, thus 

 preventing further mischief." The moral is — Had the owner 

 gone about his work with less bustle and in a more 

 systematic manner the horse would not have been so likely 

 to become nervous. 



Some horses are extremely irritable and unsteady during 

 the process of attaching to or taking from the vehicle, for 

 which there must be a cause, and it is known to be not at 

 all times the fault of the horse. The attendant who under- 

 stands his horse, and is familiar with humane and systematic 

 care and good treatment, has very Kttle trouble with a well- 

 broken animal. 



