300 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



surely be at the service of all during those dreadful 

 periods of heat which visit all our cities every year. 

 A large percentage of the drivers of our wagons, 

 cabs, etc., are utterly ignorant of the needs of their 

 charges, and very careless as well. If they will 

 not be merciful, they should be made, and it is in 

 these cases that the S. P. C. A. agents fail most 

 signally — for the reason that they are rarely them- 

 selves horsemen. 



Many horses may be noticed working every day 

 and all day, which are most improperly and un- 

 comfortably harnessed, — breeching too tight, traces 

 too short, collar too big or too small, saddle too 

 narrow, or not properly padded, or shifting about on 

 the back, bridle too short, blinkers too close, brow- 

 band too narrow, girths too loose, giving too much 

 swing to the shafts, pole-straps too tight or too 

 loose, etc. The S. P. C. A. cannot do a better 

 and more necessary thing than to employ a few ex- 

 perts to patrol the cities, rectifying such mistakes, 

 and explaining to the stupid drivers the proper 

 methods and the reasons for them. It is not enough 



