Hints on Driving

by C. Morley Knight

This system is a very useful one for getting refractory horses into a stable or loose box. In Ireland it is a common practice to rub some gravel in a jibber’s mouth, and this appears to be effective at times.

When a horse is inclined to kick on first being put in harness, he can often be prevented, if not cured, by holding, or even tying up a leg, as in the case of a jibber.

|How to guard against pulling.| If the horse is likely to be a hard puller, it is a good plan to have a Liverpool bit in his mouth, with two pairs of reins, one buckled to the cheek and the other to the bar, the latter only being used to check him if he is pulling too hard.

|Lessons must be continuous.| The lessons must be continued without intermission daily for some considerable time, or else it will be found that the pupil very soon forgets what he has been taught.

|How to fix up reins when taking out of cart.| At the conclusion of the lesson, after getting out of the cart, place the reins over the off terret to prevent them from falling on to the ground when the horse is being led into the stable. Take care that the spare parts, which hang down on each side of the terret, are well in front of the stop on the shaft; otherwise, if the horse should by any chance jump to the front while the cart is being run back, |Rein catching apt to cause an accident.| the rein may get caught round the stop and give a sharp jerk to the horse’s mouth, which will probably frighten him.

FIG. 40.—A BREAK BY HOLLAND AND HOLLAND.

Horses that have once been frightened in this way seldom forget it, and are apt to plunge forward directly they think they are clear of the traces, which is a constant source of accidents, as the horse may only get half out of the shafts, and then he will probably bolt. For this reason the kicking-strap must always be unbuckled before the traces are unhooked.

|How to prevent horse plunging forward out of shafts.| The best way of breaking a horse of this very bad habit is to drive him straight up to a wall, or into a corner where he cannot jump forward; then unhook the traces and run the cart back.

|Accustom horse to bars in stable.| A horse that is to be driven in the lead of a team can be to some degree accustomed to the bars, by having one tied on so as to hang down and touch him just above his hocks when standing in the stable.