Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1895 — NEW KIND OF RACE SULKY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NEW KIND OF RACE SULKY.

Peculiar Invention of a Hartford* Conn., Mun and His Claims for It. A horse lover in Hartford, Coon., has devised a sulky that may acctfiflplish wonders in the development? of ispeed in trotting horses. In running against time a horse should have as nearly absolute freedom of wind and limb as possible, besides being relieved of draft. lu other words, he should be as nature designed him, and the inventor of'the sulky claims that it more nearly accomplishes that end than any device yet made known. As shown in the cut, the driver’s seat is over the horse's hips, with the wheels a trifle in advance of the middle of the animal’s body. The central upright, extending from the wheel to the seat, is on a

slight incline and must necessarily help propel the wheels, thus reducing the draft to the minimum. A surcingle supports and steadies the shafts, and straps running from it to the pockets that inclose the ends of the shafts keep the sulky from running faster than the horse. The only necessities in the way of harness are the breastplate, the surcingle and the bridle, leaving the utmost freedom to the shoulders and the chest, as well as to the lungs by reason of less tightening of the girth. If the horse rears or otherwise misbehaves, the sulky must go up with him, and if he makes a sidewise movement he must land the sulky where he lands himself, with no danger of dishing the wheel. The inventor says that no “training

down” of overweights will be necessary when his vehicle is used, as the heavier the weight, within a reasonable limit, tlie more easily the vehicle will be propelled. He also says that a horse may be more easily controlled from the new location of the seat than when the driver sits back of and a trifle lower than his horse.

LATEST FREAK IN SULKIES.