TRACTION AND FRICTION 



349 



ihe greater traction power 

 of the animals. In other 

 words, the closer the horses 

 are to their load, the more 

 of the weight of the load is 

 placed on the horse. His 

 shoulders not being at right 

 angles to the direction 

 which the load is to take, 

 a part of the load is thrown 

 upon the body of the horse. 

 This relieves some of the 

 friction of the load and 

 practically gives more 

 weight to the horse, and 

 this, in turn, tends to hold 

 him to the ground and in- 

 creases his traction power. 

 In early days, farm prod- 

 ucts and merchandise were 

 transported largely by 

 teams of four or more 

 horses. The smallest horse 

 was put on the nigh (left- 

 hand) side of the pole 

 (tongue). The pole horses 

 were not called on to do 

 their full share of the work 

 where the roads were good, 

 but were kept in part as a 

 reserve. When a supreme 



