I 



I 



CHAPTER III. — Action Controlled by Artificial 



Appliances. 



It is oftentimes troublesome to give a clear explanation of a sub- 

 ject with which one is familiar. There are questions which test the 

 scrutinizing faculties to the utmost capacity, and which, after years 

 of study and many experiments, are still in doubt. Simple as it may 

 appear to those who have not endeavored to unravel the mystery, the 

 reasons for ai*tificial appliances controlling the action of horses are 

 not clearly appai-ent, and conjecture has to play a prominent part in 

 the argument. A good deal of the reasoning is forced to be hypo- 

 thetical, depending on analogy, and trusting to laws which govern in 

 cases which are somewhat similar. Not the least perplexing of these 

 questions is the effect of weight on the feet of horses, especially the 

 power of governing trotting action by the application of weight on par- 

 ticular parts of the foot. The latest inventions of compact, metallic 

 masses, placed on the outside of the hoof, have effected wonderful 

 changes, and in so many instances that the advantages are beyond cavil ; 

 and the trainer who does not avail himself of the benefits to be derived 

 from a proper use of them, is far behind the requirements of the age. 

 From their use fast trotters have been multiplied, and speed and steadi- 

 ness resulted. There are so many illustrations of the benefits which have 

 followed their adaptation, that there is little necessity for rehearsing 

 the numerous instances in which they have proven successful. Every 

 observing trainer of trotters is aware of what has been accomplished ; 

 every man who has paid any attention to the trotters of the last ten 

 years, must concede the wonderful effects, if he has pursued the 

 investigation with an ordinary amount of intelligence. Trainers, 

 breeders, and fanciers of the trotting-horse have witnessed injuries 

 resulting, as well as good ofiices ; and before the ai)plication of the 

 weight was properly understood, it was thought the drawbacks were 



