Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 9, Issue 2 (May 1, 1934.)

Travelling by “Float.”

Travelling by “Float.”

Some well-backed horses were defeated at Oamaru recently, much to the surprise of those connected with them. When pondering over the matter, and searching for a reason contributing to defeat, I came to the conclusion that travelling by float might be responsible (writes “Sentinel” in the Wellington “Evening Post”).

Under the most favourable road conditions a float cannot travel as evenly and steadily as a train running on the easiest possible grades. Travelling horses by float must create a good deal of swaying about, and consequent frequent balancing among the quadrupeds. This would naturally tend to tire a horse and make him a bit leg-weary after a long journey. Hence a horse might saddle up apparently bright and well, but have the steel taken out of his stride when he comes to the end of a race.

It must be remembered that an equine cannot sit down at ease in a more or less luxuriously cushioned seat the same as a man, and hence the human impression of travelling in a motor car may be very much different from the actual experience of a quadruped swaying about on four legs on a long and tiring journey. It is suggested that a man should stand up in a motorwagon travelling on a long journey so as to gain a comparative impression as to how it would affect a horse.