The Lead Horse 97 



TRAINING HORSES TO MAKE LEADERS 



The term "leader" is used in two ways; first it 

 signifies the near or ''lead" horse of a team, and 

 second it is applied to the front or leading team 

 when two or more teams are driven tandem, one fol- 

 lowing the other. The former is employed largely 

 on the farm, the latter in the ^large cities. To be 

 efficient in either position requires extra training. 

 On the farm the driver's hands are often needed to 

 operate the machinery and he is obliged, therefore, 

 to rely on one line, which is attached to the near 

 horse, and on commands, to drive his team. The off 

 horse is attached to the near one by means of a tie- 

 strap and crowding-stick in such a way that the 

 one is obliged to keep even with the other. Since 

 the driver must rely, in part at least, upon spoken 

 words to convey his desires, the leader must be taught 

 these extra signals and commands, such as ''haw" 

 and "gee." In the large cities the merchants find 

 it more profitable to use heavy vans drawn by two 

 or more teams and driven by one man. Since the 

 leading team is so far forward that the driver cannot 

 control it readily with the lines, he is also obliged to 

 rely, in part, on signals and commands, the principal 

 one, in addition to those above, being "yea." 



Teaching the commands "haw,'^ "^ee" and "yea.'' 

 — When we wish the team to turn to the left, the 

 command "haw" is given, or a steady pull is made 



