Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1898 — Breaking a Reindeer to Harness. [ARTICLE]

Breaking a Reindeer to Harness.

Reindeer are refry useful la countries where there are ho Snow and Ice the greater part of the year. The United States Government has found theffi useful for transporting the mails -In Alaska. Reindeer have to be broken to harness just as horses are broken ( to harness. The Laplanders and Finns "i are the people who best understand the . reindeer.. They are to these people ' what the horse and the mule are to us I for drawing loads; in addition, they are food for these people. A young relnder is called a buck. He is first taught to lead with a string or halter on his head. When he has learned to obey this leather thongs are fastened to his horns, or the halter about his head if his horns are gone. Then -the driver gets behind the reindeer and strikes him with a whip, and uses the word for “get up” or “go ahead” in his own language. When the reindeer . learns to obey this a strap of leather is put over his neck and carried to the sledge. When he has learned to draw the sledge it is loaded slowly until he is able to draw a full load. The strap on his neck is carried between his fore . legs and outside of his hind legs, when it is fastened to the sledge; this is all the harness lie wears. As you know, the moss under the snow in Arctic countries provides food and drink -for the animals.