104 



TO FORCE ON THE TROT. 



TO FORCE ON THE TROT. 



There are many promising steppers that will break and 

 run, and will not come down to work again, when much 

 excited ; and unless there is power to prevent such a habit 

 and force on the trot, the horse cannot be relied upon in a 

 race, at perhaps the very instant pushing is necessary. 

 There is not power to do this by the bit, and consequently 

 horses that step freely in private become foolish and unre- 

 liable when urged in company with other horses. There is 

 but one way of overcoming this trouble, and that is by the 

 use of the following means, the conception of which has 

 been original with myself, and brought to the notice of 

 trainers by me for several years, and has proved in skillful 

 hands a valuable adjunct, to the end of making flighty, ner- 

 yous horses come down to fast, reliable going. 



Have made first four straps 

 long enough to go around the 

 hind legs above the hocks, 

 and from three quarters to an 

 inch wide. Obtain next two 

 D's or rings, in size to admit 

 two each of these straps 

 to be run through. Step 

 in front of each hind leg and 

 buckle these straps around 

 the leg, one above and one 

 below the gambrel, the ring 



Cure for Breaking. 



or D in front, bringing the straps to an acute angle. Put 

 on the head a light well-fitting halter. Attach a strap to 

 this, which must be in part double to regulate the angle, 

 and must be long enough to extend from the head to the 

 back edge of the girt. On the end is to be attached a 

 small, nice, easy running pulley, fitted to run a half-inch 

 cord. The strap is to pass back from the halter, between 

 the legs, over the belly-band, just back of which must come 

 this pulley. Take next a piece of firm, hard cotton or hemp 

 cord, from three-eighths to half an inch in size. Run it 

 through the pulley to the center, and tie the ends into the 

 D's or rings attached to the hind legs; the whole to be so 

 regulated in length that the horse can walk or trot easily. 

 This is similar to the kicking straps described on page 78. 



