96 Training the Work Horse 



and back is at a disadvantage ; he cannot see the 

 results of his efforts ; the constant pressure is hkely 

 to cause sore shoulders and in the case of the plow 

 the horse may be severely jerked in case the plow 

 strikes a stone or root, all of which serves to discour- 

 age and to break his spirit rather than to encourage 

 and inculcate the idea that he can draw anything. 



As the training continues, the driver should adopt 

 signals to warn the horse of approaching difficulties, 

 and when he should get ready for superb effort. 

 Excellent drivers use different terms ; some whistle, 

 some cluck and some give one command, others 

 another, any of which will serve if properly used, 

 but best usage prefers the command ^^ steady" 

 given in a rather deep tone. At this command the 

 horses square themselves and make ready for the 

 effort. The draft horse should be trained so as 

 gradually to go into the collar and stay there until 

 commanded to cease, as it is the long swinging pull 

 that brings the load. There are many methods of 

 teaching this. When at all convenient, a good way 

 to train the horses to make long steady pulls is to 

 hitch them to a freight car. It requires a constant 

 pull to start the car and the movement is very slow 

 at first but gradually comes faster and easier, which 

 gives the horse much encouragement. This requires 

 patient and cool-headed effort on the part of the 

 driver, but horses thus educated are of great service 

 to mankind. 



