" HOOLY AND FAIRLY." 391 



A common flat-headed hempen halter should be put 

 on under his winker-bridle, the rope or shank of which 

 should be passed round and tied in a knot on the 

 cross-bar of the bit. With this held by the man at 

 his side, and a good pair of reins, there is little fear 

 of a run-away, a thing most of all to be dreaded. 

 The horse being in the break, the driver takes his 

 place quietly; no touch of a whip, no cl — k even, to 

 start him ; one man is at his side with the shank of 

 the halter in his hand : another, with one hand on 

 the shaft and the other on the step-iron, is ready to 

 ease the break off the moment a sign from the breaks- 

 man shows it is time to do so. When it is, the man 

 at the horse's head moves gently on, leading (not 

 pulling) the horse forward ; the other pulls, but by 

 no means forces the break after him. If the horse 

 hesitates, let him stand till he is inclined to move ; 

 when he does go, let him walk away, the man at his 

 side keeping hold of the halter ; at a proper time coax 

 him into a trot, the man still running by his side. 

 When he goes quiet, let this man gently fasten the 

 halter shank to the D of the hame, and leave the 

 horse's side. He then quietly gets into the break, 

 and the drive goes on. Should the horse stop, which 

 is likely enough, let him stand : he will very shortly 

 want to go somewhere. Let him, if it be possible, 

 take any road he likes ; no matter which way he goes, 

 provided he draws the break after him ; he can easily 

 be turned when going ; but of all things, in harness 

 or out of harness, avoid a fight with a horse till the 

 last extremity. It is always a risk, and should be 

 avoided. Our horse is now going gently, so we will 

 take him home and get him gently out of harness. 

 Having attempted to show what should be done to 



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