394 THE TROTTING- HOUSE OF AMEUICA. 



suddenly, but graduaUy, and by this means tliey will not 

 pull quite so bard, and will trot faster. It is not natural for 

 borses to pull bard. Some there are, of uncommoi; ardor 

 and determination, that will pull in company; but more are 

 made bard-pullers by fault}'' handling when young, which 

 has deadened their mouths. 



In order that a fost horse should be under circumstances 

 to do his best, he should be as much at his ease in his 

 harness and general rig as possible. If be 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 tc 

 keep their heads up, and a tight martingale to keep it down 

 Such a liorse is in irons ; and wlien 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 

 tlie right way to drive a trotter. There is a great difference 

 between lotting 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. ISIore than that is mischievous. To 

 keep the mouth alive, the bit must be shifted a little occa- 

 sionally. 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 hands should bo 

 well down ; and ihu driver ought not to sit all of a heap, 



